1835.] Notes on Bactrian and Indo-Scythic Coins. 827 



VI.' — Further Notes and Drawings of Bactrian and Indo-Scythic Coins. 

 By James Prinsep, Secy., fyc. 



Various causes have prevented the continuance of my imperfect notes 

 on the numerous and highly curious coins which have passed under 

 my inspection, since I last ventured my observations on the Kanerkos 

 and Kadphises group, as connected with the Manikyala Tope. Want 

 of leisure to attempt the engraving of so many plates, and the desire 

 to profit by a farther collection, of which I had received notice from 

 Shekh Keramat Ali', but which has not yet reached me, were among 

 the principal causes of my dilatoriness. Some little deference however 

 was also due to many of my subscribers, who complained, that I was 

 deluging them with old coins ! Having at length found time to en- 

 grave the first six plates of my proposed series, in elucidation of the 

 principal new coins of Dr. Gerard's, Keramat Al'i's, and Gen. Ven- 

 tura's splendid discoveries, I cannot refrain from putting on record 

 the little I have to say regarding them ; the rather as we may soon ex- 

 pect to hear from Paris of the reception General Ventura's collection 

 has met from the savans of that city, many of them so eminent for 

 this branch of enquiry ; and we are, on the other hand, expecting a fresh 

 memoir from Mr. Masson, which might anticipate some of the disco- 

 veries I would fain claim for myself, in this fair and highly interesting 

 game of antiquarian research ! Little indeed can I claim as my own, 

 save the labour of classifying the coins, as they have come down at suc- 

 cessive intervals — two or three hundred from Kera'mat Ali, forwarded 

 through Captain Wade ; then as many more from the late Doctor 

 Gerard*, brought down by Mohan Lal, who assisted him in procur- 

 ing them ; and lastly, the rich spoils entrusted by Gen. Ventura to the 

 Chevalier Allard for conveyance to Paris. The careful examination 

 of the whole has brought to light the names of several princes un- 

 known to history, and some few not included in the very curious and 

 novel list of Mr. Masson, published in the 3rd vol. of this Journal. It 

 has also enabled me to appropriate to their right owners many of the 

 coins of Lieut. Burnes and other collectors, engraved in former 

 plates : further, it has furnished me a clue to the Bactrian form (if we 

 may so call it) of the Pehlevi character, which is found on the reverse 

 of many of these coins ; and lastly, it has lain open a perfect link and 

 connection between what we have hitherto called the Indo Scythic 



* The death of this zealous and indefatigable traveller has not yet been record- 

 ed in these pages. I trust that his brothers, whose labours have always been 

 equally prominent in the cause of science, will favour me with the materials for a 

 worthy obituary of their lamented brother. 



