1890.] T unch-marked coins of Hindustan, ^c. 183 
of the infoi’mation embodied in tliis paper as regards the history, weight 
and value of these coins, I am indebted to the writings thereon of Major 
General Sir Alexander Cunningham whose investigations may be said 
to have exhausted the subject, and for other information and a know- 
ledge of several symbols not contained in my own collection I am under 
obligation to Mr. E. Thomas, whose article on Ancient Indian Weights, 
in Numismata Orientalia I have freely consulted. One thing which is 
specially striking about most of the symbols representing animals is, the 
fidelity and spirit with which certain portions of it may be of an animal, 
or certain attitudes are represented. The sketch may be rude and imper- 
fect, indeed it must bo so from the limitations under which it was executed, 
but in moat cases there is not much doubt as to the animal intended. 
Man, Woman, the Elephant, Bull, Dog, Rhinoceros, Goat, Hare, Pea- 
cock, Turtle, Snake, Fish, Prog, are all recognisable at a glance. Some- 
thing of the same sort may be recognised in the stiff and angular hiero- 
glyphics of Egyptian sarcophagi, and Assyrian frescos and carvings, 
and to go still further back into the dim past, we find the salient 
features of the Mammoth, Reindeer and Horse, rudely engraven on the 
implements in use with primeval man. 
In a work entitled “ Antique Gems and Rings ” published no 
longer ago than 1872 we find the author the Rev. C. W. King, M. A. 
giving expression to the following opinion concerning the ancient coin- 
age of India (Vol. I, page 86). “ It is universally acknowledged that 
the inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula derived the use of coined 
money from the Greek subjugators of Bactria, and that the earliest 
Hindu pieces exhibit evident traces of being imitations, their rudeness 
increasing as their date descends, of the Grceco-Bactrian currency.” 
Undoubtedly this opinion was in the main hold by Wilson and 
Prinsep before the materials for forming a correct judgment were gathered 
together, but this statement of Mr. King’s affirms what is directly 
opposed to the truth, since the square coins in both silver and copper 
struck by the Greeks for their Indian possessions, belong to no Greek 
national type whatever, but are obviously a novelty adopted in imitation 
of an indigenous curi’ency already firmly established iu the country. 
which mif]rht be produced by ‘ conversion,* from a genuine silver one. There is much 
too that may bo urged in support of the plan adopted by the Brahman, as these 
coins till thoroughly worn were in look and finish equal to those composed of silver 
throughout, and far more honest and pleasing to look at than the petty German 
currencies of debased silver, which were so common daring the first half of the 
present century till the Fatherland assumed her just place in the comity of nations 
and these wretched little principalities and duchies with their horrible currencies 
were swept away. 
