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COIN NAMES
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were struck to two standards, viz. an average of 131 grains and that of 142 grains. The latter has been unanimously accepted as conforming to the ancient gauf wt. of 144 grains (taking 1 ratti = 1.8 grains). What could have been the standard followed by the Gupta mint-masters when they were minting to an average of 131 grs. has remained an unsolved problem so far.
An important fact is brought to light by the अंगविजा, viz. that besides the दीनार-सुवर्णs which were the standard gold coins their sub-multiples were also minted, and these are specifically called ga414194 and 196797 No specimen however, of such small gold coins of the Guptas has yet been found.
2. रययमासक-This is obviously the silver माषक coin which Manu mentions as रौप्य माषक. Its. weight was 2 rattis :
ud and art C719#:1 (HH (1984) Punch-marked specimens of the silver #19 coins are well known and it may be taken for granted that they were current in the Kushāņa & Gupta periods, since no other type of silver #1948 have ever been found. Again, the Kushānas hardly minted any silver and the Guptas also gave scant attentions to coins in this metal because earlier punch-marked coins were still current.
3. ACHIT*--As pointed out above it should have been a sub-multiple of the standard denarius coin, weighing 121 grains which was the standard adopted by the Kushäņas in imitation of the Roman aurei.
4. नाणक माषक - The अंगविजा is specific that the नाणक was an unsubstantial coin (असार गत ), i.e. much inferior in value to the 197947 of silver referred to as TT. The determining of the weight standard of the copper coins of the Kushāņas is still in a state of confusion. Its range extends from 31 grs. to 270 grs. as recorded by Whitehead in the PMC. The art coin is also mentioned in the ( GETT 707FHITET FORTET, I. 17) where the commentary, obviously on some good old authority, explains it as a forata *, i.e. a coin bearing the figure of Siva, which induces us to identify the FF with the copper money of the Kushāņas, since it was Wema Kadphises who issued the most abundant currency of this type and caused it to be marked with the figure of Siva or one of his emblems. Buddhaghosha has an important passage in the catacot commentary on the raha, in which he mentions after कहापण a coin called लोहमासक, which seems to signify the copper माषक coin and was the same as the 1974 197 of the flag list. According to the traditional weight system, a copper qef weighed 80 rattis or 144 grs, and a 19 5 rattis. The standard weight of the 197 coin being uncertain, that of the 19# also remains problem atical. The heavy 7174 coins of the Kushāņas were struck either equal to the tetradrachma wt, standard of 268-8 grs. (67.2) being the wt. of a drachma), or the double stater wt. of 266-4 (133.2 grs. being the wt. of a stater), or the double of the Suvarna wt. of about 290 grs. (146 or 144 being the wt. of a Suvarna); or there is also the possibility of the heavy wt. of the ancient ferata coins mentioned by Pāṇini (150 rattis or 270 grs ) still being familiar with respect to the copper currency and officially accepted. The exact weight of the 77707 and its sub-multiples in copper remains a matter of conjecture.
5. काहापण-The कार्षापण coin was of ancient denomination well known from the time of Pāṇini. Its history is full of vicissitudes.
The 181947 of the aitlagt had wide ramifications. It is distinguished as a coin of substantial value (ATCC), in comparison to the copper 777. which was of inferior value (HRT). The same
1. जातरूपरजतन्ति सुवर्ण चेव रूपियं च । अपि च कहापणो लोहमासक दारुमासक जतुमासकादयो पि ये वोहारं गच्छंति सम्बे ते इध रजतंति एव उत्ता (कंखावितरणी,
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