First published in 1921, this excellent work by Professor Bhandarkar investigates the origins of Indian coinage.
By carefully analyzing the ancient literary sources (vedic, Itihasa and sanskrit), the author comes to define many words related to the monetary sphere (rati, mashaka, niska, suvarna, purana, satamana, krishnala, karsha, pana, karshapana, …). In this way the most remote monetary and weight systems are reconstructed, and then their evolution is followed up to the Kushan period.
The links of Indian coinage with those of other states (Rome, Greece and Bactria) are also considered.
Table of contents
Preface
List of abbreviations
I – Importance of the study of numismatics
II – Antiquity of coinage in India
III – Karshapana: its nature and antiquity
IV – Science of coinage in ancient India
V – History of coinage in ancient India
Ancient indian weights from Manu and Yajnavalkya
The author
Devadatta Ramakrishna Bhandarkar (1875-1950) was born on 19 November 1875 in Marathi Gaud Saraswat Brahmin family. He was an Indian archaeologist and epigraphist who worked with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He was the son of eminent Indologist, R. G. Bhandarkar.
On graduating in History, Bhandarkar joined the ASI and was posted to the western circle as an assistant to Henry Cousin. As Assistant Superintendent, Bhandarkar worked in the then Rajputana, excavating the city of Nagari in Chittorgarh district in 1915-16.
Gandhi met Dr. Bhandarkar in 1915 at Pune, in regards to the South African Indian question.
Bhandarkar succeeded George Thibaut as the Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture in the University of Calcutta and held the post from 1917 to 1936. He died on 13 May 1950.
