[82 



V. A. Smith — Grcvco- Roman influence 



[No. 3, 



The general (though not universal) adaptation of Greek numismatic 

 forms copied from Roman coins was the work of the Indo- Scythian 

 dynasties, whose rule in the Panjab began a little before the Chris- 

 tian era, and spread over all Northern India during the three follow- 

 ing centuries. The introduction of coins of Greek type was synchron- 

 ous with the development of an extensive gold currency, which partly 

 replaced, and partly supplemented the existing issues in other metals. 



The Gupta coinage A. D. 350 to 480 is a development of the Indo- 

 Scythian. 



Prom the fall of the Gupta empire to the establishment of the 

 Mnhammadan power all Indian coinages arc barbarous and chaotic, and 

 completely destitute of artistic merit.* 



The die-cutters of India never attained any high degree of excel- 

 lence in their art. Those of Bactria, as distinguished from India, 

 produced coins, not, indeed, approaching in beauty those of Syracuse, 

 but possessing characteristics which entitle them to respectful con- 

 sideration as works of art. 



Professor Gardner observes ; — " In the types used by Greek kings 

 we find great variety, and they open to us quite a new chapter of Greek 

 art, affording fresh proof of the remarkable originality of the artists of 

 the Hellenistic age. 



"In regard to the style we may note two points: (1). The extra- 

 ordinary realism of their portraiture. The portraits of Demetrins 

 (pi. II, 9), of Antimachus, (V, 1), and of Eucratides, (V, 7), are among 

 the most remarkable which have come down to us from antiquity, and 

 the effect of them is heightened in each case by the introduction of a 

 peculiar and strongly characteristic head-dress, which is rendered with 

 scrupulous exactness of detail. 



"(2). The decidedly Praxiteleau character of the full length on 

 the reverses. The figures of Herakles (pi. II, 0 ; III, 3), of Zeus (IV, 

 4; VII, 2), of Poseidon, (V, 1), of Apollo (V, 4; IX, 10), are all in 

 their attitudes characteristic of the school of Praxiteles. "f 



Some of the Bactrian coins were struck within the limits of the 

 territories now known as India, but most of them were minted beyond 

 the border, and the Bactrian coinage, as a whole, is foreign to India. 



* My remarks must be understood as applying only to Northern India in the 

 widest sense. The system of coinage in Southern India has always been quite 

 distinct, and I do not profess to have studied its history. The Peninsula was never 

 brought into really close political relations with Northern India until the es- 

 tablishment of the British supremacy. Even Aurangzib's protracted campaigns did 

 little to bridge over the gulf between the two regions. 



+ Catalogue of Com.- of Greek and Stythic kingt of Boa&ia and India, p. lviii. 



