196 



JOURNAL, B-.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XIX. 



they will have deteriorated at the rate of just over If 

 grain per century. Not very far from Major- General Sir A. 

 Cunningham's estimated rate, which is of necessity only 

 approximate. 



Of the remaining coins, those under 25 grains in weight all 

 save one are doubtful. I do not feel at all sure that they, 

 too, were not originally whole Karshapanas, but prefer on the 

 whole to leave them as doubtful. The one concerning which 

 there can be no doubt is one weighing 15 grains. This is so 

 comparatively well preserved that I have little doubt that 

 it is a Kona or half Karshapana. Assuming, as before, that 

 it has seen some 15 centuries of wear, it will have deteriorated 

 in weight at a rate of -87 grain per century. The criterion 

 of weights therefore gives us quite a reasonable amount of 

 corroborative evidence in favour of the protracted usage of 

 these coins. 



At the end of these notes I have given a table showing the 

 weight of each coin, and by quoting the number of designs 

 visible on each side, indicating the condition of preservation. 



The only other matter worthy of notice is the question of the 

 symbols shown on these coins. Very nearly all are obliterated, 

 but the best examples are shown in the accompanying plate. 

 None of the symbols are peculiar to Ceylon, and all may be 

 found on reference to W. Theobald's Paper on the subject.* 



In the list below, where I have noted a coin as bearing- 

 punch marks, it does not necessarily mean that these are 

 even partly legible. In most cases they are not. Where 

 even a small dent attests to the former existence of a mark 

 I have noticed it, as it is the more valuable evidence of 

 age and of wear in proportion to its seeming insignificance. 

 The plate shows typical specimens of the find, which have 

 been chosen for their comparatively well-preserved appearance. 

 The numbers refer to the list below. 



* "Notes on some of the Symbols found on the Punch-marked 

 Coins of Hindustan," Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1890, 

 vol. LIX. 



