436 Notice of some Unpublished Coins QNo. 162. 



volving upon its axis, which, being prolonged below, forms the handle of 

 the instrument. The motion is assisted and regulated by a small octa- 

 gonal piece of iron fastened by a short chain to the side of the cylinder. 

 Moorcroft saw one of these mechanical prayer- mills, of a large size, 

 turned by water, which probably performed the prayers of a whole 

 village, while the inhabitants were at work in their fields. Every Lama 

 carries a Skoru or Muni ; and if these Indo- Scythian kings had spiri- 

 tual as well as temporal authority, as the flames issuing from their 

 shoulders would seem to show, (Mahawanso, p. 27,) no instrument could 

 be more appropriately put in their hands than the praying cylinder. 



A common expression in Buddhist writings is " turning the wheel 

 of the law ;" and in the 7th volume of the Asiatic Society's Journal, 

 p. 147, M. Csoma states, on Buddhistical authority, that the 8th general 

 principle for the conduct of a zealous Buddhist is "to exhort all 

 Buddhas to turn the ' wheel of religion/ " Now I would suggest that 

 this "wheel of the law," or "wheel of religion," (dharmma-chakra) 

 may be only the praying cylinder ; and that to turn the wheel of the 

 law meant literally to turn the prayer cylinder ; and figuratively to 

 make religion advance. This interpretation, which would prove, be- 

 yond all doubt, that these princes were of the Buddhist religion, is I 

 think fully borne out by the Buddhistical version which I have given to 

 the reverse legend of No. 3, and by the Buddhistical figures and legends 

 on the reverses of Nos. 6 and 7. 



No. 4. — Around gold coin, of beautiful make, and in excellent pre- 

 servation. This piece belonged to the collection of my much lamented 

 friend, the late Dr. Lord ; and it is now, I believe, in the museum of the 

 East India House. 



Obverse. A full length male figure to the left, apparently dressed 

 in a complete suit of chain armor ; the head encircled by a halo, and 

 covered by a helmet, having long flaps which protect the ears ; — the 

 left hand raised and holding a trident, and the right hand pointing 

 downwards to an undecided object, which may probably be only a cy- 

 linder similar to those found in the Topes ; or it may be a small Stupa 

 itself, as it is surmounted by a trident. In either case it would be an 

 object held sacred as containing a relic of Buddha. Legend in bad Greek 

 characters around the piece PAO NANO PAO BAAANO KO- 

 PANO, " The King of kings, Balanus (or Bala,) Koran. 



