Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 147

JULY, 1922
INDIAN COINAGE BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA
139
As regards the Iranian languages, the following words may be cited in this connection :
Skt. V. kşip 'to throw,' Avesta V. sip (65or ds.) to turn upside down'; Skt. V kşi 'to dwell,' Av. V i ( prode; Skt. maksu (later Skt. mankyu) "quickly,' Av. mošu ( 6); Skt. daksina ‘right', Av. daina (bung)
Again, Skt. kşîra 'milk,' Persian tir (th); Skt. keapå ‘night,' Av. bažp ( Que ) Pers. gab ( ).
Now, the interchange of the three sibilante, 6, 7, and s, in Vedic language, even at the time of the Samhithe, is found not unfrequently. As for example, vási 'a kind of axe' or 'a pointed knife '(RV. I. 88.3), and vást (Av. X. 6.3); kéba 'hair' (RV. X. 105.5), and késa-ra 'the hair of the brow' (VS. XIX. 91); kütma (18.) besides kümma 'a kind of demon';V sru beside Váru 'to flow' 'to go,' as in órůvat (RV. I. 127. 3) ; svátrya (RV. X. 49.10) dainty' from V svad 'to test.'4
Thus we have no difficulty in accounting for á in Südra from k udra.
For the long vowell in Sadra instead of a short one, ă, as in the original word compare tiksnd and tigma (RV.), 'sharp,' from V tij 'to be sharp'; hálikaila (TS.) beside haliksna (V8.) 'a kind of animal'; and biked beside &iksa (Taitti. Up.) 'one of the six Vedårgas'. THE EVOLUTION OF INDIAN COINAGE BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA.
BY P. N. RAMASWAMI, B.A. (Hons.). For more than seventy years the varied coinages of India, which extend over a period of 2,500 years have been diligently studied by a multitude of collectors and scholars, whose labours have had a great share in the gradual recovery of the long lost history of ancient Indian coinage. The history of the evolution of Indian coinage before the Christian era is however admittedly obscure. And, although much has been done, the numismatic field is so vast, and the difficulties of its thorough exploration are so great, that ample scope remains for further researches. In the following sketch an attempt is made, so far as the prescribed limits of space permit, to give a general view of the evolution of Indian Coinage before the Christian era.
The early history of Indian coinage cannot be traced back further than the Vedio period (B.C. 2000—1400). References to precious metals in the Vedas are financial and industrial: we get a good idea of working in precious metals in Vedic times from the description of various gold ornaments, utensils and implements of war which is to be found throughout the Rig-veda. Gold, which was variously called, Candra, Jātarūpa, (" possessing native beauty ") Suvarna (" beautiful ) Harita and Hiranya was widely used. Goldsmiths melted gold and fashioned bright jewels (angi) such as necklets (nishka) ear-rings (larna-sobhana) and even cups. They made anklets (khadi) girdles, chains, water-ewers, and images of kings. The smith sought." after the man who possessed plenty of gold, with well dried wood, with anvil, and bellows to kindle the flame” (Rig-veda). The word Hiranya-kasipu of the Brāhmanas, frequently met with in the Vedas denotes & "golden seat " probably one covered with a cloth of gold; and Dr. Macdonell guesses that the word Hiranya. dant (gold-toothed) refers to the use of gold to stop the teeth. We have also referenges in the Rig-veda to golden helmets, breast-plates for the breast and crowns for the head.
"It is hardly possible " says Dr. Macdonell (Vedic Index, Vol. I, pp. 504) “to exaggerate the value attached to gold by the Vedic Indians. The metal was, it is clear, won from the bed of rivers. Hence the Indus is called "golden " and of "golden stream." Apparently
• 80o Macdonell's Vedic Grammar, 63, and the Introduction to my Paliprakåda, p. 81-9 6 Maodonell's Vedic Grammar, p. 6.