46 
M. M. Chakra?arti —Troy weights of ancient Orissa. 
[No. 1, 
Gajapati Suryavamsa dynasty. Its founder was Gajapati Kapilesvar 
Deva, and it is lasted from 1434 to 1535 A. D. or thereabout. During 
this time the marha coins diminished in weight to 61 grains. The 
reason is not clear, but the dearness of gold probably played some part in 
it. The fanams must have similarly diminished in weight. The gold 
coins described by Mr. Bidie are 60"24 and 60’75 grains .% Other coins 
of similar nature have been given in Mr. Wilson’s “ Description of select 
coins. * 
In 1568 A. D., Orissa was conquered by Kalapahar the general of 
Sulaiman Qirani, king of Bengal.f With this conquest, Orissa again 
became connected with Northern India, and the local coins were replaced 
by the mohurs and tankahs of Delhi. Regarding them, I need not 
trouble my readers. 
From gold I come to silver. No silver coins of Orissa are to be 
found. Ferishta says that there was no silver coin in the Deccan .X 
Silver must however have been used for ornaments &c., though probably 
sparingly. The Madala Panji enumerates several silver ornaments and 
utensils. The measures of silver were the same as those of gold. 
Much discussion has taken place about the ratio of gold to silver. 
This ratio differed in different times. The first extract (see supra) 
shows a ratio of 1 : 5 at the time of Ananga Bhima Deva. This is the 
lowest ratio for gold that I know of. But it is by no means improbable. 
Gold was plentiful in Orissa, nay, in the whole of the Deccan. In the 
upper beds of the rivers Mahanadi, Baitarani and probably of the 
Rishikulya, gold is still found,* thoughin small quantities. The Malabar, 
and the Nilgiris, particularly the district of Wainad are noted for 
their gold mines. While therefore gold was comparatively abundant, 
silver was dear on account of the difficulty in communication with North 
India, the home of Indian silver. Silver was so dear that no coins of 
that metal were issued in the mediaeval period. I am not surprised, 
therefore, to see the value of gold fallen to 1: 5. No better illustration 
of the abundance of gold can be given than the fact that the spoils 
alone of ’Alauddin and Malik Kafur from the Deccan reduced the ratio 
of gold to silver in North India from 1 : 10 to 1 : 8 and then to 1 : 7.f 
Journ. As. Soc. Beng., Vol. LII, Pt I, No. 1, page 40. 
* Asiatic Researches , Vol. XVII, p. 593. 
f The year of conquest has been fixed with accui’acy as 1568 A. D. See Dr. 
Hunter’s note to page 10, Vol. II, and Mr. Beames’ article in this Journal, Vol. LII, 
p. 233 note. 
X Brigg’s translation, Vol, I, p. 374. 
* Statistical Accounts of Bengal. 
f Thomas’ Chronicles, page 235. 
