Indian Antiquary Vol 28

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 63

FEBRUARY, 1899.)
INDO-CHINESE COINS IN THE BRITISH COLLECTION.
49
(c) The Kharoşthi Legend. The Kharosthi legend occurs in two different versions : a longer and a shorter one. The former which consisted probably of 20 letters is found on the large coins and on the small coins of the third (or camel) variety. The shorter legend, comprising probably 13 letters, is found on the small coins of the first, second and fourth (or horse) varieties. The length of the two legends can easily be calculated from the space distributable to the preserved and los: portions respectively. What the legend on the small coins of the fifth variety may have beer, it is, at present, in possible to say.
The shorter legend is arranged in three different ways: in the coins of the first variety i: commences over the neck of the horse, and in those of the fourth, behind its tail, while in those of the second variety, it probably commenced below its feet. It is fullest preserved on the coins Nos. 1 and 4 of the first and No. 7 of the second variety. The best readings on coins of the first variety are the following:
No. 1, maharajutha(61) X ja Gugrama(d)asa. No. 2, maharayu X X X X Gugratidasa. No. 3, maharayr X X X X Gugramad)asa. No. 4, maharayutha x ra x . Gugramodasa. No. 7, mahara(ja) X X X X (Gu)gramo(da)sa. No. 10, maha X X X X X X Gugradamasa.
No. 14, maha(ra) X X X X X Gugra(dama)sa. The best readings on coins of the second variety are the following:
No. 4, X X rajuthubi X X xxxxx No. 5, X X rajo Xbi X X (Gugra).X X X No. 6, X X rajuthabira X xxxxx No. 7, X X juthabiraja Gu(gra) X No. 8,
X X X juthuliX X xxx. No. 11, X X X juthabiX X xxxx No. 12, X X X juthabiX X xxxxx
No. 13, X X X X X X raja. Gugra X X X Of the coins of the fourth variety, any thing of the legend is only visible on No. 2, where the following fragment can be read:
maharaja X X X X X X X X X The longer legend is found on the coins of the third variety. On these the letters are written in long, narrow shapes, closely crowded together; and calculating from what of the legend is preserved, it may be seen that the face of the coin affords room for 20 letters. On the coins of the second variety, the letters are formed large and square, taking up much more space, so that the surface of the coin, to jadge from what remains of the legend, cannot have admitted inore than 13 letters. The same is the case with the coins of the first variety, where the letters are formed small and square, but are set wider apart from one another than on the coins of the third variety. On the two coins of the latter variety, the legend reads as follows:
No. 1, XXXXX XXXXXX X Xta (sa) Gugra(da)ma X
No. 2, maharajasa rajati) (jasa) (ma) X X (sa) Gugramadasa. The same long legend, as already observed, occurs on the large coins, with a slightly different form of the name, viz., Gugramayasa. It reads as follows:
No. 1, (ma)harajasa (ra) X XXXX XXXX (Gagramayasa) No. 3, (mahara) X X X X X X X X X X X X (Gubgra X Xsa.
X X X X