1S35.] on Indo-Scytkic and Hindu Coins. 633 



pronged symbol between them, and a mysterious triangle above. This 

 little coin is unique. The next, fig. 9, is equally curious, though others 

 in copper have been met with by Colonel Stacy. The epigraphe borne 

 by these is APAOXPO, which I suppose to mean " the great sun ;" arda 

 or arta in Ardeshir and Artaxerxes, having that acceptation. On the 

 copper coins, the word appears corrupted to OPO OKPO, and this is 

 probably the epigraphe of the dancing figure in Plate L. 



In fig. 10, the name of the moon, MAO, and the lunar crescent, are 

 satisfactory and conclusive, as to that being the correct reading. 



And now we come at last to the main object to which this essay 

 was directed, namely, to discover the prototype of the Kanouj coins 

 in those of Indo-Scythic fabric. 



The great majority of what are called the Kanouj gold coins have 

 on the obverse a prince standing precisely in the attitude of Kad- 

 phises and Kanerkos. The dress alone betrays a slight variation, being 

 in some instances almost the coat and trowsers of the present day. 

 On the reverse is a female seated sometimes on a couch, more 

 frequently in the native fashion, holding in her left hand a cornucopia, 

 in her right a pdsa or noose. This class of coin has long been 

 known. A brass-pot, containing, it is said, two hundred of them, was 

 accidentally discovered by the wearing away of the east bank of the 

 river Hugh, 10 miles above Calcutta, some years ago. Twenty-four 

 were presented to the British museum, an equal number to Dr. W. 

 Hunter, and a portion to the India House ; the remainder were dis- 

 persed among private collectors. It was from one of these that Mr. 

 Wilson's No. 13 was drawn ; and the same store furnished the figures 

 in Marsden's plate. The latter author in his Numismata Orientalia, 

 vol. ii. page 725, has the following passage, which will serve excel- 

 lently well as a text to the present section of our essay : 



" Some learned antiquaries think they discover in these the evi- 

 dence!? of a Greek origin ; but on this point I do not see enough to 

 justify an opinion, and shall refrain from conjecture; cherishing the 

 hope that future discoveries of Indian medals may throw a light upon 

 the subject, which is in itself of the highest interest." 



To this challenge we have now the good fortune to be able to 

 respond most satisfactorily, for in figs. 11 and 12 (of the Ventura 

 collection), we find precisely the obverse and reverse above described 

 with the marginal legend in Greek, rao nano rao. . koruno, and the 

 superaddition of some incipient rude Nagaii in the position afterwards 

 occupied by legible Sanscrit names and titles. To set the comparison 

 in the clearest li^ht, the two lowest coins in the page have been in- 

 serted, fig. 16 from Gen. Ventura's, fig. 17 from Col. Smith's, cabinet, 



