________________
90
ANGAVIJJA
distinction is indicated by the
the
corresponding to the upper part of the body () and to the lower part (en) from the point of view of prognossicating the fortune of some person.
The अंगविज्जा further distinguishes the original Kārshāpanas (आदिमूल काहावण) from the new coins of the same name (ar and ra, both meaning the 'young' or recent coins). Fortunately the current name of the आदि मूल काहावणs is also recorded, viz. पुराण ( आदिनुलेसु पुराणे बूया ), which was well-known during the Saka-Satavahana and the Kushāņa periods, as will be seen below.
Further the कार्षापण coin was of three classes, superior (उत्तम), middle ( मज्झिम) and जघन्य (inferior), and it is essential to understand clearly these distinctions, as shown later.
6. खत्तपक―― It is a new coin-name added by the अंगविजा and is of exceeding interest. Obviously it denoted the coins issued by the Kshatrapa rulers of Ujjain and Western India. In this connection it is relevant to recall the evidence of the Pali commentaries to which Prof. C. D. Chatterji had drawn attention. There the ancient punch-marked silver Kärshāpaņas are called नीलकद्दापण पोराण and the same is distinguished from रुद्रदामक, viz the coins which were minted by Rudradaman, the Great Satrap who ruled in 150 A.D. According to the at a coin was three-fourth in value of a 1. It may be taken for granted that in weight also it was three-quarters of the standard silver Kärshapana of 32 rattis, i.e. of 24 ratti (= 40 grs.) weight. These silver coins 'were apt to excessive wear and tear, and due to the deposit of verdigris on the surface they were graphically nicknamed as 17. We find in the available specimens a good deal of variation in weight; e.g. Rapson has recorded wts. ranging from 28 grs. to 38 grs. (specimen no. 320 is 37 grs. and no. 324, 38 grs.).
1. In view of Prof. C. D. Chatterji's article, Some Numismatic Terms in Pali Texts, being published in a rather out of the way Journal (Journal of the U. P. Historical Society, Vol. VI, Pt. I, January 1933, pp. 156-173) and the exceptional importance of that evidence for comparative study, the three original passages are cited here:
(I) तदा राजग हे वसतिमासको कहापणो होति, तस्मा पञ्चमासको पादो। एतेन लक्खणेन सब्बजनपदेसु कहापणस्स चतुत्थो भागोपादाम्बो सोच खो पोराणस्स हासवतेन न इतरेस रामादीनं समन्त पायादमा पाराजिक II. 1. 6, विनयपिटक, P. T.S., Vol. III, p. 45 ).
तमिमंग,
At that time at Rajagaha one Kahapana was equal to twenty masakas; wherfore one Pada was equal to five masakas. By this standard it is to be understood that, in all the provinces the quarter of a Kahapana, is a Pāda. But this is in respect of the ancient Nilakahapana (and) not of these (latter-day) Rudradamaka (coins) and these have been modelled after it;
11 इमिना
पदे महापणस्त वीतिमो भागो मासको ति इदमेष होतीति दकां पोराणसत्यानुरूप लक्खणसम्पन्ना उत्पादिता नीलकहा पणाति वेदितव्या । रद्रदानेन उप्पादितो रद्रदामको । सो किर नीलकहापणस्स तिभागं अग्घति । ( सारत्थदीपनी comm. on the समन्तपासादिका, Simbalese edn., Vol. I, p. 493).
It must be borne in mind that by this (referring to the
passage cited above) it has been said that in all the provinces the twentieth part of a कहापण is a मासक. A नीलकहापण is to be understood as being manufactured with marks following the ancient (numismatic) treatises. A coin) is one which has been manufactured by Rudradama. This (money-piece) is said to be equivalent to three-quarters of a
IIT "पोराणकरला ति पोराणसत्यनुपपादितस्तं सम्पन्नस्त नोलकापणसदितरस कापणस्सा एतेन रहदामकादीनि पटिक्खिपति''''''''मासको नाम पोराणकरस कहापणस्स वीसतिमो भागो, या लोके मजेडो' तिपि वुञ्चति ।
The expression) (i.e., of the ancient) applies to the manufactured with marks according to 14. By this (expression) are excluded the
(coin)
the ancient (numismatic) treatises), and resembling the and those which have been modelled after it...... is, indeed, the twentieth part of an ancient 1997, which is also called Mañjetthi in current usage.'
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