1224 Second Notice of some forged Coins [No. 108. 



grotesque piece of Eucratides. The eye is scarcely visible, and the 

 nose, mouth, and chin are worthy only of a ludicrous mask. The caps 

 and palms of the Dioscuri are also strangely disfigured ; and the name 

 is corrupted to DXAAATIAA on the first specimen, and on the 

 third to BAE IAE QE DXKPATI^^I ; all which suspicious circum- 

 stances prove most incontestably, that these pieces are forgeries. 



No. 3. A square silver piece of large size, weighing 118 grains; 

 procured by Dr. Chapman at Peshawur. The execution of this piece 

 is very much superior to that of any of the others in the accompanying 

 plate ; but there are several suspicious appearances about it, which 

 induce me to believe it to be a forgery. Of these the principal are ; 

 its square form ; its identity in size and type with a copper coin 

 already known, having an owl on the reverse ; and the total omission 

 of the Bactrian Pali letter IP s, at the end of the word Maharajasa, 

 although there is plenty of room for it on the piece. It is curious to 

 observe that the same omission occurs on the genuine copper coin 

 published by Mr. Prinsep, from the corner of the coin having been cut 

 off (vide Jour. As. Soc. of Bengal; November 1836. Fig. 6,) and 

 on this account alone I am inclined to suspect that this forged piece 

 must have been stamped by a die copied either from that identical coin, 

 or from a sketch or impression of it. I have no doubt whatever that 

 the piece is a forgery. 



No. 4, is likewise a square silver piece of large size, and is of ex- 

 tremely barbarous workmanship; the title ofBA2IAEQ2 is spelt 

 BASAIE QS, and the name is written ME l/IAH . . . ; some of 

 my objections to the genuineness of the last coin, apply equally to 

 this ; namely, its square form, and its identity in size and type with 

 a known copper coin, having Minerva's Gorgon -headed shield on the 

 reverse. Thdse facts alone are sufficient to raise suspicion ; but when 

 coupled with the barbarously rude execution of the piece, and with 

 the jumbling of the letters of the legend, I have no hesitation in de- 

 claring it to be a most pitiful forgery. 



No. 5, is another square silver piece of large size, and of the rudest 

 possible workmanship. The king's head and the figure on the reverse 

 are both in directions contrary to what they are upon the original coin ; 

 and this reversal of the figure of Minerva, betrays that the piece is a 

 forgery ; for it brings the buckler upon the right arm, and leaves the 



