1836.] Early Hindu Series of Coins. 655 



Of legends we have in fig. 15, on the margin . . ^T. . yo. . On fig. 

 16, reverse, the letter *T ja. On fig. 11, on either arm of the sitting 

 figure ^ftfar Sri di P and on fig. 12 several uncertain letters scattered 

 about TT 3J "?r ^T. In the last of the set, the letter 31 stands alone. 



It would be in vain to attempt any explanation of such vague 

 symbols. Of this series of coins M. Court's drawings contained 

 many good samples. They are plentiful in the Punjab, less so in 

 Upper India, and comparatively rare in Afghanistan. Mr. Masson 

 has only given one, and that very degraded. 



Fourth Series. 



These shadows of the Kanerkan king are alike Duncan's issue, — 

 " a fourth ? — start eyes ! what will the line stretch out to the crack 

 of doom ? another yet ?" — Such is, however, the singular fact ; whe- 

 ther they " reigned in this kingdom" consecutively, or in subdivided 

 portions of it, there can be no doubt of the common source whence 

 these numerous progeny have borrowed their family features. Amid 

 the hundreds of each kind, now open to our examination and selection, 

 the progress of deviation can readily be followed : and it is not a 

 little curious to see the different results of corruption arrived at by 

 different engravers ormoniers, in the course, perhaps, of a few gene- 

 rations. In one case we come to a kind of dagger — in another to a 

 few dots and strokes — and in the present instance to a kind of heart, 

 formed of the knees and petticoat of the seated female ! The best of 

 the three coins depicted in the engraving are from Mohan La'l's col- 

 lection ; the worst from Capt. Cautley's disinterred Behat relics, 

 where a large proportion of these heart coins was found in associa- 

 tion with the supposed Buddhist coins, described in my essay of last 

 November. I can find but one approach to a letter on any of them, 

 viz. the f^ to the left of the well formed Raja in fig. 16. It is 

 hardly sufficient to confirm their Indian origin : and it must be noted 

 that this species is found in abundance farther to the north-west than 

 any of the others. 



Thus Mr. Masson says of them : " this series is very extensively 

 found in western Afghanistan. The obverse has a rude figure of the 

 prince, clad in mail with the accompaniment of the fire altar," (not 

 visible in ours, but clearly so in M.'s drawings) " and on the reverse 

 a figure seated on a throne with her foot on a footstool. On no 

 one coin of the class have I been able to detect the legend, al- 

 though they appear in some instances to have had characters intended 

 for such. Figs. 61 to 63," (those that shew the chair, the cornuco- 

 pia and noose) " are generally found at Beghram, figs. 64 to 66," 

 (those having only the outline of a heart,) " are the types prevalent 



