1880.] C. J. Eodgers — The Coins of the MahdrdjaJis of Kdngra. 11 



that it was their chief stronghold in which they deposited their treasures."* 

 Not only this, but General Cunningham thinks that the wealth accumula- 

 ted in Kangra at that time consisted of the silver pieces of the Hindu 

 Eajahs of Kabul which are even now found so plentifully throughout the 

 Panjab — the coins of Samanta Deva, Syalapati Deva, Bhim Deva and Kha- 

 davaya Deva.f 



One fact bearing strongly on this view the General seems to have over- 

 looked. All the coins of the Kangra Rajahs with some few rare exceptions 

 are of the horseman type. Some are of the bull and horseman type with 

 the names of the Rajahs over the bulls. Nay more than this, the earliest 

 Kangra coins bear the name of Samanta Deva over the bull. That they 

 were coined in Kangra no one will doubt who will cast his eye over the 

 coins of the Rajahs in the plate. I once attributed the first two coins to 

 Susarma Chandra. But a careful examination of the letters together with 

 the results of a comparison of the letters of other coins with these, has 

 convinced me that they are the coins of Samanta Deva. 



The list of names of the Rajahs of Kangra from Susarma Chandra 

 down to the last Rajahs is of course obtainable. There is no reason for 

 doubting its correctness. But as yet no coins have been found going fur- 

 ther back than Prithvi or Pithama to whom General Cunningham assigns 

 the year 1330 A. D. This is an approximation only, but based on fair rea- 

 soning. J udging by the number of coins obtainable of any prince we may I 

 think fairly infer the length of his reign. The fewness of the coins argues 

 that the reign was short. Before Pithama I believe the coins of Saminta 

 Deva were coined and used at Kangra. There are immense numbers of 

 these coins found yearly in the Panjab. Some of them have the horseman 

 after the usual type, horse well shown and the whole body of the rider with 

 letters on either side his head. The bull is well developed too and the 

 name above it is generally legible. But the Kangra type of Samanta Deva, 

 which the die-cutters of the mints of the Rajahs of Kangra seem to have 

 slavishly adhered to, is unmistakeable, after it is once studied and known. 

 The other well drawn coins are probably those of the Kabul or some other 

 mint. 



We must not be surprised if the coins of all the Rajahs are not obtain- 

 able. The coins of Kashmir, though very abundant, have many kings 

 iinrepresented. The coins of Chumba a neighbouring state to Kangra bear 

 only the names of a few Rajahs, although the list of kings numbers no less 

 than 170 sovereigns. Coining seems to have always been considered the 

 peculiar privilege of paramount sovereigns or of independent rulers. Bear- 

 ing this in mind, we need not wonder if any hiatus occurs in the lists of 

 * Ibid, p. 156. 



t I have seen several hundreds of these coins this year.— C. J. K. 



