626 Continuation of Observations [Nov. 



and an elephant, may be imitations of the Azos coin. In fig. 7, the 

 & symbol is exactly a Chaitya, or Bauddha monument, as I had from 

 the first supposed. 



The tree is also satisfactorily made out in fig. 15, and in many of 

 the coins in the following plate. In fig. 23, it is seen at the side of 

 a walking figure ; and above it, in a very perfect coin of the same 

 type, since sent to me by Lieut. Conolly, the sun shines, — as it were 

 on the saint and his holy tree. 



The three most conspicuous letters on all of these coins are u>QU> 

 or y dh y, and it does not seem any great stretch of imagination to 

 see in them a part of the word Ayodhaya, the seat of one of the 

 earliest Hindu dynasties, and which was at the commencement of 

 Buddhism almost as much the resort of its founder Shakya, as 

 Rdjgriha the capital of Magadha. Still from the association of these 

 coins with those of the Indo-Scythic dynasty, it would be hazardous 

 to attribute to them any greater antiquity than the early part of the 

 Christian era. 



The metal of these coins is a mixture of tin and copper, which 

 retains its figure well, and is white when cut. 



Figs. 11, 12, will be recognized as Indo-Scythic coins : being found 

 along with the rest, they serve to settle the point of antiquity. 



On fig. 13, are the letters uf£,(, (in Tibetan z 4 TF^V. .) p raja s. 



On fig. 16, are a further supply resembling more the lath alphabet 

 VIxUfL jk • • a mapasdte . . . The same combination occurs in fig. 45, 

 otherwise so different a coin ; on the reverse, the letters under the 

 symbol very much resemble the Pehlevi TNTTu malakdo. This silver 

 coin is of M. Ventura's collection. 



Fig. 17, is peculiar for its multitude of symbols, moet of them 

 known to us by their occurrence on other coins. This specimen is 

 also of the Ventura collection. 



Fig. 18, a coin in Mr. Tregear's possession. Several of the same 

 kind have been before introduced into my plates, but hitherto the figure 

 under the elephant has been supposed to be a prostrate elephant 

 vanquished by the upper animal. The multiplication of specimens has 

 at length shewn us the true character of the doubtful part, and that 

 it merely consists of two of the common symbols of the series. 



But we mu^tnow turn to Plate XXXV. in which, thanks to Colonel 

 Stacy, I have been able to attempt a more methodical classification 

 from his abundant supply of this Buddhist series of coins. 

 Plate XXXV. Stacy's earliest Hindu Coins. 



It is an indisputable axiom, that unstamped fragments of silver and 

 «-old of a fixed weight must have preceded the use of regular coin 



