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. The points which are dealth with here are on numismatic studies in India; Satamana and Sana; Kautilya and Buddhaghosa on coins; silver coins of Vasisthiputra Satakarni; alleged coins of the Mahisa kings; coins of semi-independent rulers; date of Isvaradatta's coins; Petluripalem hoard; some problems of tribal coins; coins of Kumaragupta I, Harigupta and Ramagupta; coins of Muhammad bin Sam and Prthviraja; coins of Kakatiya Prataparudra I; Gajapati Pagoda, Ganga Fanam and Ramatanka; coins of Bhairavasimha; Maratha mint under the Peshwas; Cowrie-shell, rupee and pice. In describing the features of a particular class of coins from the standpoint of standard, style and fabric or in discussing the significance of the numismatic terms, the author has utilized the literary data which have a bearing on them.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... THE INDIAN EMPIRE VOLUME II HISTORICAL CHAPTER I EPIGRAPHY /. Introductory Note The subject of this contribution to the Imperial Gazetteer Introducis the explanation of the nature and value of the epigraphic tOTy noteor inscriptional bases of Indian research for the pre-Musalman period. And the topic is an important one; for, not only is India particularly rich in inscriptional remains, but also those remains are the only sure grounds of historical results in every line of research connected with its ancient past. We have, however, to exclude from our treatment of this subject one branch which has always been found more generally attractive than any of the others. The inscriptions on coins and gems, better termed, by way of avoiding confusion, 'legends' on coins and gems, are epigraphic materials. But they are a special class of such materials; and the treatment of them falls, most properly, under the subdivision of pumismatology. We have to confine our attention here to those epigraphic remains which have come to be best known as 'inscriptions' by way of distinction from the numismatic materials. Nevertheless, we hope to be' able to show that our topic is no dry and dull one, but is full of interest as well as importance. The inscriptions, thus indicated as our topic, are notifications, very frequently of an official character, and generally more or less of a public nature, which recite facts, simple or complex, with or without dates, and were intended to be lasting records of the matters to which they refer. They are in almost all cases found engraved, not written. They were occasionally engraved VOL. II. B upon monuments in the shape of great monolithic columns; as, for instance, in the case of some of the moral and religious edicts...