IX. 



DESCRIPTION 



OF 



SELECT COINS, 



FROM ORIGINALS OR DRAWINGS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE 



ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



Br H. H. WILSON, Esq. 



Secretary A. S. 



The subject of Indian Numismatics has hitherto received but little 



attention from the Members of our Society. The cause of this neglect it 



is not difficult to explain. 



t 



Collections of Coins, formed in this country, have always been the 

 work of private individuals. Whilst in existence, therefore, they have 

 been accessible only to the friends of the proprietors, and after the death 

 of the latter, they have been either dispersed and lost, or sent to England, 

 and equally lost to India. Few opportunities have consequently occurred 

 of examining with any degree of attention such Coins as have been met 

 with, or of knowing indeed in what number, or of what description, 

 ancient Medals have been found. 



Another reason why the subject has been neglected is the want of 

 assistance from descriptions or plates : little, it is believed, having been 

 published in Europe upon the ancient Coins of India, and at any rate 



