I 



No. 58. — 1907.] eld lings. 195 



by the degree in which they have deteriorated from their 

 original weight. Major-General Sir A. Cunningham* gives 

 the weights of punch-marked coins as follows : — 



\ Karshapana == 14*4 grains, called Tankha or 



Padika. 



| Do. =28-8 do. Kona. 



1 Do. = 57*6 do. Karshapana, 



Dharana, or 

 Purana. 



10 Do. = 57'6 do. Satamana or 



Pala. 



Now, although the existence on one of these coins of a com- 

 paratively well-preserved punch mark is no proof that the 

 coin was not in circulation for a long time previous to the 

 application of that mark, yet the existence of very much 

 worn marks is proof that the coin was in circulation for a very 

 long time after the punch was used. 



Major-General Sir A. Cunningham, after trying some 800 

 coins, came to the conclusion that the average wear of a 

 Karshapana was about 1 J grain per century. | His estimate 

 is based on quite unequalled experience, and must therefore 

 be accepted as correct in so far as such an estimate can be 

 correct. 



Taking into consideration the fact that all of these coins are 

 greatly worn, as maybe seen by their marks, which are in all 

 cases almost obliterated, I think we may safely say that al) 

 those which are in their present condition 25 grains and 

 upwards in weight must have originally been whole Karsha- 

 panas weighing 57*6 grains each. 



To take a very much worn coin of 25 grains to have been 

 originally 28*8 grains in weight does not allow enough margin 

 for deterioration in weight consequent on wear. Assuming, 

 therefore, that those which are now 25 grains and over in 

 weight are deteriorated Karshapanas, we have fifty-three 

 coins averaging 30*73 grains. Supposing them to have cir- 

 culated for fifteen centuries — from 500 B.C. to 1000 a.d. — ■ 



* " Coins, of Ancient India," page 46. 



f Loc. cit., page 55. 



