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Orissa Review * September - 2004 Ancient Coins of Orissa (6th Century B.C. - 6th Century A.D.) Bharati Pal Numismatic, the study of coins is regarded as ancient India is known from the coins. Even a great source of ancient history. Numismatics the celebrated work Rajatarangini of Kalhana like epigraphy is an important source of ancient has termed coins as a primary source during history. In other words it helps us to construct 12th century A.D. history and does not merely corroborate it. The The historic stage of civilisation is taken history of Kushana would be incomplete if the to be the hunting stage, as the hunting stage numismatic testimony to their power and passed through the pastoral into the agricultural strength would be stage. Agricultural removed. Out of fifty products was used as kings with Saka- currency. Mineral Pallava names hardly products such as more-than a dozen cowries also was used names are known first as ornament then as from sources other currency. Panini's than coins. The Ashtadhyayee is useful history of Greek not only for Sanskrit settlement in the Grammer but also for north-western part of construction of social, India before religious and economic Alexander's invasion history of India. Panini is only known from coins. Even the history of refers to seven different types of coins Satavahanas, about whom the different version prevalent in India in 550 B.C. In the Jataka of the Puranas give different genealogical and Literature there is reference of atleast three chronological list of kings are known from types of gold coinage in ancient India. The coins alone. The king who was probably the Jaina Kalpasutra mentions, Sri the Goddess first of the line, and after whom the dynasty of Beauty whom Trisala the mother of was named Satavahana, is known only from Mahavira saw in her dream as having a strings coins and not from any other sources. The of gold coin on her breasts. Kautilya's existence of the Republican States side by side Arthasastra mention two types of coins such with the Monarchial forms of Government in as Pana (Silver Coin) and Masaka (Copper 23 Orissa Review * September - 2004 Coin). References have also been found in four symbols on the obverse, while reverse is some of the accounts of the foreign travellers, blank. On the basis of the symbols and who have given pertinent information about the fabrications, scholars have divided Punch- currency system prevalent in different parts of marked coins into two types 'Local' and the country. The accounts of the celebrated 'Imperial' punch-marked coin. The 'Local' Chinese Travellers Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang series known also as the Janapada coins were provide information on the large scale confined only to a Janapada particular area or circulation of the cowries as money alongwith locality. Thus the local series of Punch-marked the metallic money prevelant during that period coins found in the western part of Orissa are in different parts of the country. known to scholars as coins of the Kalinga That the cowries were also used during Janapada or better designated as the Dakshina Kosala Janapada. They differ from the coinage commercial transactions in Orissa as in other of other Janapadas, such as Panchala, parts of India down to the advent of the Surasena, Kasi and Gandhara etc. Britishers, is known from the account of Thomas Bowry, a foreign traveller. As regards to the 'Local' type of Punch- marked coins found in Orissa, a hoard of 162 Punch-marked Coins coins have been found in the Sonepur area. In the opinion of Prof. A.L.Basham They have four symbols in one side only, while uninscribed Punch-marked coins were minted reverse is blank. The symbols are - (1) an from the 6th Century B.C. onwards and were elephant facing left with a small dot at the back in circulation for many centuries. The Punch- (2) a bull to the left with a small dot at the marked coins are the earliest system of coinage back (3) a solid oval surrounded by dots which constitute the most extensive monetary (4) two bulls yoked in a plough. It is interesting system of ancient India. The punching devices to note that similar type of coins have been of these coins have no inscription. Instead they found in various parts of Chhatisgarh state and have a number of symbols. It was so extensive Balaghat district of Madhy Pradesh, but differ and widespread that numerous hoards and stray in weight. The local type of Punch-marked finds of these coins have been discovered coins which were discovered from throughout the length and breadth of the country Singhavaram in the Krishna district of Andhra including Orissa. The history of the Coinage Pradesh bear four symbols. These coins are of Orissa as in other parts of the country begins generally taken to be the local issues of the with the so-called Punch-marked coins which Andhra Janapada. Andhra being a have been unearthed from different places like neighbouring Janapada to Kosala. Sonepur, Mayurbhanj, Asurgada, Sisupalagada. Recently a hoard of 325 coins with five The punch-marked coins are known to or four symbols on the obverse have been found have been made in silver and copper. In Orissa in the Sonepur region of western Orissa, now only the silver Punch-marked coins have been preserved in the Orissa State Museum at discovered so far. In the Bolangir and Bhubaneswar. The 'Imperial' coins bearing five Sambalpur districts in western Orissa Punch- symbols on obverse and one or more minute marked coins have been discovered which bear symbols on the reverse belong to different 24 Orissa Review * September - 2004 varieties and groups. 'Imperial' type Punch- of the Deccan and Chedis of Kalinga. This marked coins have discovered from almost all evident is also borne out by the recent the parts of Orissa. More than seven big hoards archaeological discoveries at Bhubaneswar. of these coins collected from different parts of Three Yaksha images those were discovered Orissa, which are now preserved in the Orissa from Dumduma, a village situated near the State Museum. Most of the hoards have been Khandagiri - Udayagiri are strikingly similar found in Ganjam, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj and to the Yakshas carved on the western gate of Cuttack district. the Sanchi Stupa belonging to the Satavahana Satavahana Coins Period. The intervening period between the end The Satavahanas who flourished in the of Kharavela's rule and the rise of Deccan during the first century B.C. - 2nd Samudragupta is generally taken by scholars century A.D. held their sway for about three as the dark period in Orissan history. On the centuries were the first rulers who issued basis of inscriptions and numismatic evidences inscribed coins in the south. scholars have tried to establish Satavahana rule So far as the coins of Satavahanas are over a part of Kalinga in the 2nd-3rd centuries concerned, in Orissa we do not possess them A.D. in large number as in other parts of the Deccan The Hatigumpha Inscription of which were included in their empire. Kharavela records that in the second year of A few Satavahana copper coins are the his reign without paying any heed to earliest and most copiously inscribed coins in Satavahana king Satakarni, Kharavela sent a the collection of Orissa State Museum. Some vast army which reached the river Krishna and of them belong to Kumbha Satakarni and there caused terror in the city of the Mushikas. are legends on the coins as Siri-Sata and The Nasik Cave Inscription of Satakanisa. The legend found in them are Gautamiputra Balasri describes Goutamiputra usually in the Brahmi script and Prakrit Satakarni as the Lord of the Mountains of Vijha, language. The symbols on the coins are lion, Chavata, Paricata, Sahya, Kanhagiri, Maca, elephant, horse, bow, hill etc. on the obverse Siritana, Malaya Mahida of Setagiri and these and mountain symbol on the reverse. mountains Mahida or Mahendra is located in The lead coins attributed to the later Kalinga, being identified with the Eastern Ghats Satavahanas are found during in excavation at between the Mahanadi and the Godavari rivers, Sisuplalagarh near Bhubaneswar. They are part of which near Ganjam is still known as a very small round pieces with diameter of 1.5cm Mahendra Malei. approximately. The Ujjain symbol on the Although we have no definite proof to reverse is slightly visible. show the continuity of the Satavahana The discovery of the Satavahana lead Supremacy in the South Kalinga after coins alongwith indicate cultural and Goutamiputra Satakarni and Vasishthiputra commercial contact between the Satavahana Pulumavi. It is certain that there was economic Empire and Kalinga during the early period of and cultural contact between the Satavahanas second and thired century A.D. 25 Orissa Review * September - 2004 Puri-Kushana Coins district. A hoard of such coins was discovered The abundant finds of a type of copper in 1923 at Bhanjakia near Khiching. Another coins in Orissa resembling to a certain extent hoard of 282 copper coins with the figure of the copper-coins of the Imperial Kushana have Kanishka and Huvishka was also discovered attracted the attention of the Numismatists since in Mayurbhanj district. In May, 1993, 105 Kushana coins were discovered in a brass pot long. According to Dr. V.A. Smith" They have in Nuagaon. been issued by rulers of Kalinga in the fourth or fifth century and it is possible they may have There is some sort of similarity in the been struck only for use as temple offerings." later coins of the Yaudheyas and the Puri- All Numismatists acknowledge that they exhibit Kushana coins.
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