1872.] Note regarding a Coin of Flato. 175 



on the Saui-ashtran coins, which places the Sah kings between the 2nd and 

 1st centuries B. C* 



' The primary correction which is needed in the description of the coin 

 is, that instead of " three somewhat indistinct letters, which are like MO^, 

 we must substitute the letters P M Z, the numerals for 147 ; the M and the 

 Z are clear and indubitable, and though the P is obscured by the oxyde of 

 silver, which has largely affected the surface of the piece, I have fully satisfied 

 myself as to its correctness, and my interpretation proves to be furbher 

 confirmed by the record entered on the first incorporation of the coin in the 

 British Museum collection, by the assistant in charge, who had no concern 

 with the import of the date in question. 



' The Seleucidan era commenced 1st September, 312, B. C. — which brings 

 the date of this coin to 165, B. C. 



' A minor alteration in the published description is requisite in the fact, 

 that the leading figure on the reverse is not that of the king but of Ilelios, 

 the sun god, whose rayed halo follows the outline of the well-known western 

 representations of the divinity. 



' It must be mentioned that the authenticity of the coin has not remained 

 unquestioned, but I see no sufficient reason to shake our faith in its genuine- 

 ness. The conception of the horses of the sun is in advance of their execu- 

 tion, but this merely implies that good models were still extant among 

 failing artists. The letters which compose the legend are well-defined and 

 carefully ranged, but they vary in form from the ordinary characters employed 

 in the mints of Eukratides, and they equally differ from the outlines which are 

 preserved in the associate mint monogram, but this latter divergence may 

 be explained by supposing that the punches for the mints were kept ready 

 prepared and struck into the soft steel of the die, whereas the legend of the 

 new sovereign had to be cut expressly for the occasion. 



' I have been the more particular in supplying these details, as I hear 

 that the officials in charge of the medal room, with overstrained caution, 

 refuse to allow casts of the coin to be supplied to the public, on the certainly 

 invalid plea of fear of injury to the surface of the metal.' 



4. From J. W. B. Martin, Esq., on the Archaeological remains of 

 Barantpur in Zila' Bhagalpur. 



* See Jonrnalj Royal Asiatic Society, xii. (1850,) p. 41, note 3 — Journal, As, Soc. 

 Bengal, 1855, note, p. 5G5 — Prinsep's Essays, ii, 86-7 — Journal Asiatique, of Paris, 1863, 

 p. 388. 



See also, on the general subject, Lassen, Ind. Alt. ii, 794 — T. St. Martin, Jour, cles 

 Sav., viii. (1859), p. 452— Dr. Bhau Daji, J. R. A. S., xx, 105. 



J. A. S. B. (1863), p. 161— Bombay Brancli K. A. S. 1862, aud 1868, p. 231. Geni, 

 Cunningham, J. A. S. Bengal, 1864, p. 35. 



