The history of coin manufacturing in ancient India, though scantily documented, is illuminated through the writings of Kautilya, also known as Chanakya. His seminal work, the Arthashastra, dating back to the 4th century B.C., provides a glimpse into the sophisticated practices of coin production. Kautilya mentioned the existence of counterfeiters (Kutarupakaraka) and detailed the intricate processes involved in minting coins, which underscores the significance of currency in administration and trade.
Coins in
ancient India were crafted through a meticulous process. Initially, metals were
melted in crucibles known as musha,
purified using alkalis (kshara),
then beaten into thin sheets with hammers (mushtika) and shaped into usable forms with clippers (sandansa). These pieces were then
embossed with dies or punches bearing symbols (bimba-tanka). This artisanal method laid the foundation for coin
manufacturing, reflecting not only technological ingenuity but also the complex
socio-economic structure of the time. Amazingly, many elements of this ancient
procedure remain integral to contemporary minting processes worldwide.
Copper
coins, intricately moulded from castings, enjoyed wide circulation across
northern India, transcending individual states or rulers. Notable examples
include small round coins displaying an elephant on one side and a three-arched
hill on the other. Intriguingly, instances of pairs of these coins joined by a
metal band suggest either a unique merchant practice or an early advent of
conceptually "higher value" currency.
From the
3rd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., these ancient coins played a vital
role in trade and commerce, facilitating economic interactions and reflecting
the social fabric of early Indian society. Their legacy endures, highlighting
the ingenuity and adaptability of ancient methodologies in the face of an
evolving economic landscape.
