Ancient Indian Numismatics

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Coins tell a lot about the ruler who issued them. They speak of events that took place; they tell us the name of the ruler; some coins even tell us which year he ruled in. The designs are aesthetic. Coin in India depict the king, gods, goddesses, and other motifs while medieval ones issued by kings in North India bear inscriptions in Arabic or Persian and the ones in South India depict beautiful motifs coupled with legends. During the British rule in India, currency slowly, but steadily shifted from precious metals to token currency. Coins of British India were minted in brass, bronze, aluminium, stainless steel, and other metals which were not deemed precious. The coins that we use today in India have a fascinating history. Mintage World is the perfect place to uncover it and learn something new. The study of Kharoshti and Brahmni, which are the ancient texts of India were actually deciphered with the help of coinage of the Kushan Era. Many factors that help historians to decipher the possible rise and fall of various kingdoms and rulers are the change in design style, dates mentioned and some changes in language. However it is observed that nearly every Ruler tried to have their unique lineage of coins which when deciphered properly, gave umpteen information about the period. Coins help apprehend the socio-political, cultural and administrative aspects of past kingdoms and rulers. Numismatics also reveals the religious beliefs and sentiments during that time. For Example, it was first in the coins of Kanishka dynasty that Buddha was represented in form while earlier it was demonstrated symbolically. Similarly on the coins of Gupta Empire one can witness forms of Durga, Laxmi and Ganga. The present book is an authoritative and authentic source for the study of Indian coins. It not only describes the coins but also studies them critically in all their aspects,

Bhavesh Semwal is a numismatist and also serves as a guest lecturer for various universities across Asia. Having acquired Ph.D. degree in Archaeology with a specialization in numismatics, Bhavesh a strong academic background in the subject. Bhavesh's work focuses on unraveling the stories and possesses cultural context behind ancient Indian coins. Through meticulous research and analysis, he explores the historical, economic, and cultural aspects of numismatics, shedding light on the significance of coins as valuable historical artifacts. Bhavesh Semwal's contributions to the field of ancient Indian numismatics extend beyond his research and writings. He actively participates in academic conferences and seminars, where he shares his insights and engages in discussions with fellow researchers, archaeologists, and historians.

Bhavna Singh is an expert in the field of ancient Indian numismatics. With a deep passion for coins and their historical significance, she has dedicated her career to the study and research of ancient Indian currency. Bhavna's expertise lies in examining the different types of coins that were prevalent in ancient India. Her research encompasses the materials used, the designs featured, and the denominations employed during various periods in Indian history. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops on numismatics, and is a member of several international organizations that promote the study of numismatics. Bhavna has also published over 50 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, and is the author of two other books on numismatics.

India has been one of the earliest issuers of coins in the world and has been known for its sheer diversity in terms of minting techniques. motifs, sizes, shapes, the metals used, etc. The Coinage of India has played a very important role in the history of economic development of the country ever since its inception. Before the introduction of coins, buying or selling of products was done through the barter system. Coins solved the issues associated with the barter system and precious metals were shaped, printed and stamped as a legal method for trading. The earliest known coins of India were silver punch-marked ones, bearing a design and were circulated in the Janapadas. With time and over the centuries, different metals were being used to make coins. Each of these would be made using different methods; shaped differently with unique marks and designs. Since the ancient era, coins in India have depicted the kings, gods, goddesses, and other motifs while medieval ones issued by kings in North India bear inscriptions in Arabic or Persian and the ones in South India depict beautiful motifs coupled with legends. The motifs on these coins depicted a lot about the cultural, social, architectural and economic state of the different rulers and dynasties that ruled over India. Coinage in India evolved over the years, in terms of its shapes, sizes, value, motifs and material. Initially, valuable metals were used to make coins but in the present day, post-independence coins are made out of mixed metals (in the form of token currency). Coins are pieces of metal that have been assigned a value and stamped with a designed approved by the governing authority. Coins are legal tender. The history of coins of India has evolved over time. Buying and selling began with cowrie shells and beads being used as money. This use of commodity money paved the way for the barter system. Coins evolved from the problems associated with the barter system. Precious metals were shaped and then struck with designs and marks so that they could be used as legal tender or coins in India. For convenience, they have been categorised into ancient coins, medieval coins, colonial coins, and modern Indian coins.

The earliest coins of India were silver punch-marked ones. They were struck with individual punches bearing a design and were circulated in the Janapadas. Each Janapada had its own combination of punches. One of the peculiar punch mark coins is that of the Gandhara Janapada.

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