182 V. A. Smith — On Gold Gupta Corns. [July, 



2. On the Safivi dynasty of Persia and their coins, with four Plates 

 of unpublished coins. — By E. E. Oliver, Esq. 



(Abstract.) 



The paper is an attempt to give an historical outline of the rise and 

 fall of the Safwi dynasty of Persia, who ruled from 905 to 1160 A. H. 

 The materials have been taken mainly from Malcolm's history of Persia, 

 Jonas Hanway's travels, and Mr. Stanley Law Poole's tables for con- 

 temporary dynasties. 



The account is supplemented by a description of 48 coins of differ- 

 ent rulers, and illustrated by drawings of the coins. 



The paper will be published in Part I of the Journal. 



3. On the effects produced by small quantities of Bismuth on the 

 ductility of Silver. — By Surgeon-Major J. Scully, Assay Master, H. M.'s 

 Mint, Calcutta. 



This paper will be published in Part II of the Journal. 



4. On a find of sixteen Gold Gupta coins in the Gorakhpur district. — 

 By V. A. Smith, Esq. 



Sir Alfred Lyall, Lieutenant-Governor of the N.-W. P. has sent me 

 for identification a parcel of 16 Gupta Gold coins lately found in the 

 Gorakhpur District, a description of which will be interesting to nu- 

 mismatists. 



Mr. D. T. Roberts, Collector of Gorakhpur, states that the coins 

 were found by some chamars when digging in a field adjoining an old 

 1 dih ' in the village of Kotwa in Tahsfl Bansgaon of the Gorakhpur 

 District. They were found loose under some bricks. Nothing is 

 known as to the history of the mound of ruins at Kotwa. This last re- 

 mark applies to all the numerous mounds which are found in almost 

 all parts of the Gorakhpur and Basti Districts. 



The buildings were in all cases of brick, and the images and orna- 

 ments appear generally to have been made of terra cotta, and in con- 

 sequence a recognizable building is never met with, excepting some 

 stupas, which can be recognized by their circular outline. 



Tradition is absolutely silent concerning all these ancient remains. 

 The villagers as a rule ascribe them to the forest tribe of Tharus, but 

 the ascription is evidently incorrect, and due to the fact that when 

 the ancestors of the present inhabitants immigrated, they found the 

 country, as far as it was peopled at all, in possession of the Tharus. 

 The immigrants knew nothing of an earlier and vanished civilization, 

 and naturally ascribed all ruins to the people whom they found in 



