1837.] from the west of India. 1039 



part and I shall therefore not do more than transmit to you, copies 

 of such inscriptions as I think from the associated emblems or mono- 

 graphs may assist to throw light upon some of the coins you have 

 published. As preliminary to my observations you must permit me 

 to quote a passage from your own elaborate account of the coins which 

 appear in your journal. You say most justly and philosophically that, 

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

 gold of a fixed weight must have preceded the use of regular coin in 

 those countries where civilization and commerce had induced the neces- 

 sity of some convenient representation of value. The antiquarian there- 

 fore will have little hesitation in ascribing the highest grade of anti- 

 quity in Indian numismatology to small flattened bits of silver or other 

 metal which are occasionally discovered all over the country, either 

 quite smooth, or bearing only a few pinch-marks on one or both sides ; 

 and generally having a corner cut off as may be conjectured for the ad- 

 justment of their weight." — Vol. iv. p. 627. If it be found that Baudha 

 emblems or Baudha monographs exist upon such coins, we shall have 

 the highest grade of antiquity in Indian numismatology associated with 

 Buddhism. And that such is the case you have supplied numerous in- 

 stances, and vol. iv. pis. 3 1 and 34, of the square kind, coins 26, 27, 32, 

 51 and 18 are denominated ancient Hindu coins, but which from their 

 emblems or monographs, are evidently coins of Buddhist dynasties ; at 

 least they must be admitted to be such until we can prove from un- 

 questionable ancient Hindu inscriptions that similar emblems or mono- 

 graphs were used by the Hindu inhabitants of India in contra-distinc- 

 tion to the Buddhist inhabitants. You will perceive that the monograph 

 which characterizes the above coins is the '-f 1 and a reference to my 

 perfectBaudha inscriptions will prove that this emblem is initial or final, 

 or both, in every inscription excepting the second. Very many of the 

 rounded coins, which according to your dictum are comparatively more 

 recent than the square coins, are equally characterized by the emblems. 

 Proceeding to another emblem common to the coins and the 

 Buddh inscriptions, it will be seen that the initial symbol of inscrip- 

 tion No. 6, is absolutely identical with the emblem or monograph 

 over the back of the elephant on the coin No. 9, on the reverse of 

 which is a bull usually denominated by Europeans a brahmany bull; 

 but which, as it is found in Buddhist sculpture as well as on Buddhist 

 coins, might with equal propriety he denominated a Buddhist bull. 

 The partially obliterated emblem on coins 5, 13, is no doubt the same 

 as that in coin 9. 

 6 q2 



