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further examination think is a part of Fig. 4, interlaced triangles, only partly punched, and with the angle shown as rounded. I also think that Theobald's interpretation of some of the marks which he figures is doubtful.1

I do not propose in the present paper to discuss the possible meaning of the various marks which are found on punch-marked coins, other than those which occur on the present coins. But I would remark that I agree with Mr. Bhagwan Lal Indraji and Mr. R. D. Bhandarkar that the mark which in its simplest form consists of an arch superimposed on two other arches, and which has been considered by Cunningham to be a chaitya and by Theobald as a stupa is really intended to represent a mountain. The passage quoted from the Vissuddhimagga that coins sometimes bore a mark indicating mountains also supports this view. This conclusion is of importance; as it shows that it is not necessary to presume any necessary connection of the coins on which it occurs, with the Buddhist religion, or that, consequently, such coins would not, therefore, be anterior to the Buddhist religion.

Similarly, the larger pyramid formed, in the same manner, of a large number of such superimposed arches would represent a higher or larger group of hills, as the distinguishing feature of the place where the coin was struck, which is in accordance with the passage in the Vissuddhimagga; or may, possibly, in other cases represent Mount Meru, as has been suggested by Dr. Spooner who notes that combined with a crescent on its apex, it is the recognized symbol of the Jains to represent one

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1As an example, Theobald's No. 118, fig. 3, which he describes as “a rude human figure holding a club in the left hand. Above it are five dots and these are probably intended to represent five heads. As the lingam has sometimes five heads, this figure is probably intended for Siva" (J. A. S. B., Part I, 1890, p. 234), would appear to be the "bull's or cow's head with garland" Fig. 8 of the present coins, looked at the wrong way up; the five dots being the garland, and the “club ” one of the ears. Also [Theɔbald's Fig. 216, which he describes as “Ornamental Fillet or Ribbon" appears to be the Eran river-mark. And there are others. of which the description given appears to be doubtful.—E. H. W.

• The Zoroastrian Period of Indian History, J.R.A.S., 1916, p. 413.

of the Tirthankars and is called by them "Mount Meru." It may, therefore, in some cases be a mark of power and strength, the "eternal hills," similar to the symbols of the sun and moon.

I would note that this mark occurs on the lower end of the pillar that has been excavated at Kumrahar in the site which, as Dr. Spooner shows there is good reason to believe, was the Palace of Chandragupta 1 Maurya, where it could not, therefore, refer to a stupa or chaitya, or have any Buddhistic significance; as that religion had not then been adopted by the Maurya kingdom. Even if this palace were the later place of Asoka, the same observation would equally apply; as the Buddhist religion had not then been officially recognized and its symbols would not have been adopted. I think, therefore, that this symbol must be definitely abandoned as having the above Buddhist or any special religious significance.

The fact that this mark does not occur on the present coins is natural, as there are no hills in the neighbourhood though it might be expected to occur on coins struck at Rajgir.

As the passage in the Vissuddhimagga says that the shroff on examining the coin would know at which village, borough, town, mountain and river bank the coin was struck, where, therefore, other marks are combined with the hill-mark they would appear to indicate which particular hill or group of hills was intended. Theobald gives a number of such hill-marks (Figs. 46-53), in which the animal over Fig. 49, the peacock over Fig. 50, the tree over Fig. 52 and the (?) river turtles under Fig. 53, appear to be such distinguishing marks. Theobald's Fig. 59, three arches side by side, would also appear to be another variety of the hill-mark. 2

1 "Excavations at Pataliputra " by D. B. Spooner, A.S.R., 1912-13, pp. 53-83, Plate XLIX. p. 78.

' Theobald described this mark as "No. 61. Three huts, the central being the largest," etc., J. A. S. B., Part I, 1890, p. 237.

Assuming this to be a variety of the hill-mark, which I think it is, there would appear to be an interesting example of the later use of this symbol to represent hills on the three coins in a row on a coin of the Puri Kushan type which is described in my paper on" Puri Kushan Coins" found at Rakha, in the present number of this Journal. (J. B. O. R. S., Vol. V., p. 79′)—E. H. W.

There also does not appear to be any sufficient ground for considering a simple branch, such as Figs. 10, 11, 12, 12 (a), 13 and 33 and reverse Fig. 81 necessarily to represent the bodhi tree, though it may do so when it is combined with the figure consisting of four or more squares, which is considered to represent a rail; as in that form it is found on the coins of Taxila and other coins together with other Buddhist emblems. Even in the latter case it does not always represent the bodhr tree, as is shown by Theobald's Fig. 223 which he described as "Jackal looking up at a tree, protected by a railing."

The figure called a "rail," Fig. 53, also occurs in a variety of marks in combination with various other objects besides trees.

The existence of a branch on certain of the present coins does not, therefore, imply any connection with the Buddhist religion.

A wheel, Fig. 55, appears on one coin, No. 102, but it has a double circumference and it differs from the accepted form of the Dharmachakra and there is no reason to suppose that it is intended to represent it.

With regard to the remark of the Vissuddhimagga, that the shroff would know at which river bank the coin was struck, the mark of two wavy lines representing a river occurs on the square copper coins found at Eran and Besnagar, and as this symbol is also found on the cast copper coins which succeeded the above, the presumption is that those coins were current when succeeded by the cast coins and are therefore of much later date than the silver puranas. The Vissuddhimagga was written in Ceylon at same date before 450 A.D., and, therefore, refers to punch-marked coins of a much later date; as this form of coinage continued in Southern India much longer than in other parts of India. As far as I know, the river-mark has not been found on any of the early silver punch-marked coins. If such mark had then been in general use to represent a river it might, perhaps, have been expected to have been found on the present Pataliputra coins, but it does not occur.

In the present stage of knowledge regarding punch-marked coins it is not possible to judge their probable age except on general considerations.

Speaking generally, it would appear to be a reasonable inference that more elaborate designs, and those composed of more than one symbol are later than more simple designa and those of one symbol. This statement cannot, however, at present be made with certainty without an examination of a much larger number of coins than have been so far examined and without the assistance of the nature of their provenance in each case.

The present coins would appear to be of early date from (1) the depth at which they were found; (2) the fact that their marks are all of a simple nature; (3) the absence of any marks which indicate the Buddhist religion which might be expected to be found on coins later than Asoka.

There are two marks which somewhat resemble the Brahmi letter Ga, namely Fig. 22 on coin No. 51 and Fig. 23 on coin 55. But an examination of these shows that they differ from the form of that letter found in inscriptions and on other coins, e. g. in the word negāmā on the square copper coins of Taxila. 1

Some indication of their period may, however, be inferred from the fact that amongst the objects found in the excavations of Pațaliputia carried out by Dr. Spooner at Bulandibagh, in which what are believed to be the old wooden city walls, described by Megasthenes, have been discovered, amongst the numerous fragments of antiquities which have been found in the earth, with which the space between the two wooden palisades was filled, I have seen a small square-shaped piece of light green opaque glass, or other vitreous material about the same size as a small square punch-marked coin, on one side of which this mark (Fig. 1) is very clearly moulded, exactly similar to the mark on these coins. These excavations have as yet been only provisionally described. But, I believe, that Sir John Marshall is of opinion that this infilling between the palisades may have been made in part from older rubbish-heaps. If this idea is correct, the mark in connection with Paṭaliputra is carlier even than Chandragupta.

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C. A. I., Plate III, Figs. 8, 9, 10.

In Fig. 22, on coin 54, the two sloping strokes are separate; and in Fig. 23, on coin 54, the character does not form an angle but is distinctly rounded at the top, and the line is not of uniform thickness, as in the letter Ga, but the right hand portion swells out and is distinctly and, apparently, intentionally thicker than the rest of the character. If, therefore, these figures represent the letter Ga, it would appear to be an older form than in the inscriptions at present known.

There is also another mark on coin 58, which may be the Brahmi letter to. The mark has not been given on Plate IV, as 1 did not, at first, grasp its possible significance. It will, however, be seen on the upper margin of coin 88, Plate II, by looking at the coin from the left hand side,

The predominant symbols on the coins are (1) the three chhatras and three ovals alternately round a central circle (Fig. 1) and (2) the sun (Fig. 2). These two marks also occur together on 50 out of the 61 coins found at Peshawar described by Dr. Spooner1 and one or other of them occurs on the remaining coins. They also occur generally together on several of the punch-marked coins which have been described. *

They do not, however, occur on any of the 1,226 coins found at Paila, though other forms of the solar symbol appear on the reverse of some of those coins.

Several varieties of the first symbol (Fig. 1) are given by Theobald, who notes that its great antiquity is shown by the fact that it was found by Schlieman in the lowest stratum of the excavations at Troy, 3

1 A. S. R.; 1905-06, p. 156, 157.

2 E.g., I. M. C. Vol I, Plate XIX, figures 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11. Also C.A.I. Plate I, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13, Plate II (T»xila) figs. 1 and 2.

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327. Central Sphere supporting three Chatras', 'Umbrellas' or 'Broad Arrows', Fig. 91.

The same type of symbol also occurs in the lowest stratum at Troy 23 feet below its surface in terracotta whorls mixed with stone implements. In this archaic form of the symbol the apex of the "chatra" is directed inwards instead. of outwards, and the solar nature of the inner disk on which the "chalras" rest (as it were topsyturvy) is placed beyond doubt by the numerous radiating lines surrounding it. (Schlieman's Troy, page 30.)

(Footnote continued on p. 35.)

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