Coin India - Simplify Your research by Understanding Basic Categories

 Considering the vastness of Indian Numismatics, it is very important for young collectors to break it down into basic categories so that it becomes much easier to explore the enormous varieties of Indian coins. If you are looking for the right start, then read on, this is the perfect snapshot for you!

Ancient Coins of India:

In the 6th Century BCE, the Indian subcontinent was divided into 22 different Janapadas and each Janapada issued coins of their own. Ancient Indian coin issued by Gandhara Janapada are considered to be some of the earliest coins of the world. These were rectangular silver coin which featured a six-armed symbol at both ends of one side. The other side of these ancient coins of India was left blank. These historic coin were minted using the punch-marked technique. Coming to ancient Indian empires and kingdoms, the Gupta Empire issued some of the most beautiful coins in India from 320 AD to 550 AD. When it comes to South India, Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and Pallavas were some of the most powerful dynasties who also issued various types of ancient Indian coin. Then came the coins of Ancient Invaders like Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythian, Kushans, Indo-Parthians etc. These amazing coins depict the unique cultures and traditions that these invaders followed.

Medieval India Coins:

When we talk about Indian coins, nobody can miss out on the wonderful coin that were issued by powerful and legendary emperors such as Akbar, Shivaji Maharaj, Tupu Sultan etc. Medieval India coin can be broadly classified into five major groups. Coin issued by the Sultans, the Mughals, Independent Kingdoms, Princely States and Hindu Kingdoms. Coins issued by the Sultans and Mughals featured Persian legends. Some of them even featured beautiful couplets like the ones issued by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Coins issued by Shivaji Maharaj were called as Shivrai. Introducing a new denomination at a time when the Mughals were extremely powerful is considered to be a great achievement. During Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, special Shivrai coins were minted in gold. These gold coin are extremely rare and are sold at auction houses all across the globe.

Colonial India Coins:

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, several European powers started exploiting trading opportunities in India. The most successful of them was the British East India Company who gradually started imposing their power and eventually, India was declared as the official colony of Britain. Initially, coins in India were issued by the East India Company for different circles like the Bengal Presidency, Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency. After the revolt of 1857, British India coin were officially issued under the Queen's reign. These amazing colonial coin featured a portrait of the Queen or King on one side with the denomination an year of issue on the other side. Apart from British East India Company, several other trading companies like the Dutch East India Company, Danish East India Company, French East India Company and Portugal also issued different kinds of coins in India.

Republic India Coins:

Finally, Republic India coins are the ones that are issued by the Government of India after independence in 1947. Old British India coin were circulated as frozen currency until the first coin of republic India were issued in the year 1950. These Indian coins belonged to the Anna Series. Some of them were struck in different shapes like Square and Scalloped. The decimal coinage was adopted in the year 1957, after which both decimal as well as pre-decimal coin were circulated together for a short period of time. The 2 pice coins issued between 1957 and 1964 featured the legend "Naya Paisa" to differentiate them with the ones of the same denomination that were issued earlier.

The history of Indian coin is so vast that it is impossible to learn everything at one go. You will have to select a category and then dive deep into it, by covering one dynasty/ kingdom at a time. By following this procedure, you will get a fair idea about our glorious past.

Simplify the study of Coins of India by exploring the broad categories of Indian coinage in brief. If you are looking to pursue Indian numismatics seriously, this article is exactly what you need to get started. Understand the basics of Indian coinage so that you can research about the innumerable varieties of coins systematically.

Ancient Indian Coins And Their Innumerable Varieties

There has always been a good demand for old Indian coins in the field of numismatics. The main reason for this has been the fact that Indian history is thousands of years old. It has witnessed hundreds of dynasties, rulers and kingdoms since ancient times, each of which have issued various types of ancient Indian coins. 

Image Courtesy: www.mintageworld.com

Coins of Ancient Janapadas:
Gandhara Janapada issued ancient coins of India from 600 BC to 300 BC. During the same era, several other Janapadas issued different kinds of coins within their own territories. These include Indian ancient coins of Magadha Janapada, Magadha-Mauryan, Kashi Janapada, Kuntala Janapada, Ayodhya Janapada, Vanga Janapada, Malla Janapada, Kosala Janapada, Vatsa Janapada, Kalinga Janapada, Avanti Janapada, Ashmaka Janapada, Andhra Janapada, Saurashtra Janapada, Kuru Janapada, Panchala Janapada, Shakya Janapada, Shurasena, Matsya, Chedi and Anga. These coins were issued using the punch-marked technique and featured unique interesting symbols on them.

Coins of Ancient Kingdoms:
Historical coins of India issued under the Gupta Empire from 320 AD to 550 AD are considered to be some of the most beautiful ancient coins of the world. Some of these rare historical coins are even sold by auction houses around the world for lakhs of rupees. Apart from Guptas, other kingdoms such as Western Kshatraps, Satavahanas, Kalachuri of Tripuri, Shuga etc also issued some really attractive Indian old Coins during this period.

Ancient Coins of South India and Invaders:
Pallavas, Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas were the most powerful ancient dynasties of South India. Apart from them, the Kadambas of Banvasis, Alupas, Ishvakus, Western Gangas also issued some brilliant ancient coins of India. The Indian subcontinent was invaded by several foreign powers from the northwest frontier. This gave rise to another category of ancient Indian coins. This category includes coins issued by the Indo-Greeks, Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Scythian, Kushan, Indo-Parthian, Huns, Sassanian Imitation and Kushano-Sassanian. There’s more! Ancient city states like Ancient City States of India like Eran, Taxila, Rajgir, Almora, Mathura, Ayodhya, Suktimati, Kolhapur, Ujjain, Erich, Kurapurika also issue some wonderful old Indian coins. 

All the categories that have been mentioned above are further divided into subcategories based on name of ruler under which the ancient coins of India were struck. It is almost impossible to study all these varieties of old historical coins at one go! You can pick up one category of your choice and study its history in detail. 

Four Ancient Indian Coins of South Indian Dynasties and Ancient Invaders

If you are a big fan of ancient Indian coins, then there are certain amazing varieties issued by South Indian dynasties and foreign invaders that you must definitely look for. Let’s explore four such Indian old coins.

Copper Coin of Pandya Dynasty
 
These old Indian coins were struck somewhere between 50 AD and 100 AD during the Sangam Age of Pandya Dynasty.  The square-shaped coins were die-struck in around 4.98 grams of copper. The obverse of this beautiful old coin of India featured a standing elephant facing right in front of a trident. Other three symbols featured above the elephant include jars, a vessel and a chakra. The reverse features an intricately designed fish symbol. 

Copper Coin of Chera Dynasty

These ancient Indian coins were issued in the southern parts of the subcontinent under the Chera Dynasty during the reign of Kongu Chera. These round shaped copper coins were die-struck in approximately 3.5 grams of copper and bore the denomination Kasu. The obverse of these historical coins of India featured a seated Goddess holding lotus flower in both her hands while a bow and arrow can be seen beside the Goddess. The reverse depicts a symbolic form of Narasimha.

Very Rare Silver Drachm of Indo-Greek Ruler Apollodotos

These are very rare historical coins that were issued somewhere between 180 BC and 160 BC by the foreign invaders Indo-Greeks during the regime of their ruler Apollodotos. This square shaped silver Drachm has a weight of 2. 42 grams and belongs to the Elephant type coins issued by this dynasty. These ancient coins of India were Die Struck at Panjhir mint and featured interesting designs on both, obverse and the reverse. The obverse side of the coin depicts a standing elephant facing right, a Greek legend that translates to “Basileos Apollodotoy Soteros" and a monogram below the elephant. The reverse side of this coin features a standing humped bull at the centre facing right, the Kharoshti legend which reads "Maharajasa Apaladatasa Tratarasa", and a monogram below the bull. If you find one of these ancient Indian coins, you are truly lucky!

Sassanian Imitation Silver Dramma

These coins of ancient India were issued between 700 AD and 1100 AD during the reign of Sassanian Imitation dynasty ruler Firuz Imitation Gaddhaiya Series 2. This round-shaped Silver Dramma was die-struck with fascinating designs. The obverse of these Indian ancient coins featured a bust of the King facing right. The unique aspect about the bust is that the head is very narrow and eyebrows become part of the forehead. The reverse depicts a fire altar in the centre, attendants with raised hands, sun in the left field and crescent in the right field, bodies made of dots where the dots symbolise the flame in the fire altar. Hands of the attendants are represented as a semi circle, becoming a part of the altar.

Hope you had fun reading about these four types of ancient Indian coins. Just in case you find one of these or any other Old Coins of India, don’t forget to send us pictures!

Four Ancient Indian Coins to Seek for as a Collector

Old Indian coins have always been in the spotlight in the world of numismatists. These ancient Indian coins have a lot of historical value in the market which is why they are sold for impressive amounts at auction houses. Let’s take a look at some Rare Historical Coins of India that coin collectors from all over the globe love. 

Here is a scarce 1 Shatamana Silver Plated Copper and Copper coin of Gandhara Janapada. These beautiful ancient coins of India weighed around 11.3 grams and were struck using the Punch Marked technique somewhere between 600 BC and 300 BC. The designs were inscribed using two punches and were based on a flower theme. The obverse of these Indian old coins featured two six petal flowers while the reverse was left blank.


This is another scarce Karshapana Silver coin from Magadha Janapada that was struck between 600BC and 550 BC. These old Indian coins weighed around 3.5 and were produced using the punch marked technique. The obverse design featuring a sun, a six-armed symbol, a Taurine and a Bull was created using five separate punches. The Taurine is surrounded by dots on three sides while the bull is facing right.


This is one of the wonderful Indian ancient coins that were struck by Imperial Magadha Rulers of Magadha-Mauryan Empire somewhere between 600BC and 150BC. These irregular shaped silver coins bore the denomination Karshapana and weighed around 2.9 to 3.5 grams. They were struck using a punch-marked technique to create several interesting illustrations on the obverse like a six armed symbol; a Sun; bow and arrow; four taurines and an Elephant. You should consider yourself to be lucky if you have one of these historical Indian coins in your collection.

This old coin of India was issued by Kashi Janapada between 600BC and 525BC. These rare historical coins of India bore the denomination 5 Shana and were struck in 6.4 grams of silver. They were produced using the Punch Marked technique with four punches of two abstract symbols and two flowers on the obverse. Like most other ancient Indian coins, there were no designs on the other side.

Keep your eyes wide open for these stunning ancient coins of India!

How to Identify Categories of Old Indian Coins

As a collector, I think one must work towards building a quality collection of old Indian coins. Randomly adding coins to your collection will only make it bigger in size. Apart from that, anybody and everybody can build such a collection of Indian old coins. If you really want to earn respect in the field of numismatics or coin collection, you should constantly be seeking more interesting coins. For that, you will definitely have to invest some time in researching about these historical coins of India.

In order to get a hang of things, you can start by segregating ancient Indian coins based on their time period or era. For example, coins issued by various ancient janapadas can form one category. These beautiful ancient coins of India date back to 6th century as well. The most famous ones are those coins which were issued under Magadha-Mauryan Janapada. There were many other janapadas such as Gandhara, Kuntala, Ayodhya etc. If you truly love your hobby then you will find unique ways of building a collection of these Janapada coins.

Next, you could move on to old coins of India that were issued by ancient invaders. The most famous coins from this category in the world of numismatics are the ones issued by Kushans, Indo-Greeks
and Indo-Scythians. You could also categorize your coins based on different kingdoms and dynasties like the Gupta, Satavahanas, etc. Ancient Indian coins from the southern part of the subcontinent include the ones issued by Banwasis, Cholas, Pandyas etc.

When you are collecting coins based on category, it is but obvious that you would also have to undertake that much more research. Your collection will also look much better and diverse in that

case. When you add a coin that belongs to a new dynasty, you would naturally start upgrading your knowledge about that particular dynasty. This is how your knowledge also keeps growing along with your collection. There is no fun in building a collection of random coins. It is only when you take some effort that you will truly understand the joy of collecting rare historical coins. So identify your liking, create your own categories and start building a unique collection.

What has my love for old Indian coins given me in return!

What happens when you are sitting idle? All sorts of unwanted thoughts start troubling your mind. With time, we gradually get engulfed in depression and keep neglecting the situation until it has caused serious damage to your health. Keeping ourselves occupied in interesting hobbies can make us happy from within. Instead of watching TV or listening to songs, you can take up a more useful hobby like collecting old Indian coins. I was a small kid when I was introduced to an old coin of India by my grandfather. Ever since then, I developed a liking for ancient coins of India. I still have an eye for beautiful Indian old coins and take necessary steps every now and then for adding value to my collection.

Coming to the benefits of a hobby like collecting ancient Indian coins; it is definitely a unique way to get in touch with our glorious past and traditions. Reading history books can be very boring after a point. There is nothing like holding and feeling a sound evidence of history in your very hands. Youngsters of today’s times are busy wasting their time on the internet. A hobby like collecting Indian old coins can utilize your free time in the most fruitful manner. Another advantage of collecting Indian old coins is that they can fetch you a good amount if you sell them after a few years. A hobby can slowly turn into a business idea.

From the day I started collecting interesting ancient coins of India, I started researching about them on a daily basis. Nobody was after me, I was self motivated to do my research. Over the years, I not only increased my collection of old coins of India but also increased by knowledge base as well. As of now, I don’t have any plans to sell my collection of unique ancient Indian coins to anybody. They are so priceless for me that I might never be able to sell them off in the near future. But I do like interacting with like minded numismatists and understanding the market value of these lovely coins!

Ancient Coins of India and their broad classifications

Collectors from all around the world have a fascination for old Indian coins. Many of these ancient coins of India were issued thousands of years ago by various kingdoms and emperors. Indian old coins from the Magadha Mauryan empire speak a lot about the richness of Indian traditions and cultures. They suggest the existence of highly civilized societies within the Indian subcontinent right from ancient times. Moreover, these ancient Indian coins also suggest that the Indian subcontinent was had some of the wealthiest kingdoms of its times.

Ancient coins of India can be classified based on the various janapadas that existed during those days. Gandhara, Magadha, Magadha-mauryan, Kashi, Kuntala and Ayodhya formed the earliest Janapadas starting from 600 BCE. Then there were invaders like Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greeks, Indo – Scythian, Kushan, Indo – Parthian, Indo Sassanian, Huns etc. who minted coins under their regime as well. The designs, motifs, inscriptions of ancient Indian coins were unique and represented the ruling kingdom which issued them. There is so much to explore that a single lifetime wouldn’t be sufficient to learn about them.

Then there were Mighty kingdoms under the Guptas, Western Kshatrapas and Satavahanas, each of which issued beautiful Indian Old Coins. If you thought that there were powerful kingdoms only in the north, then you are wrong. Old Coin of India struck under south Indian empires like Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas suggest that the Indian subcontinent maintained strong trade relations with foreign lands as well. There were influential city states as well like Mathura, Rajgir, Kolhapur, Ayodhya, Ujjain, Taxila etc., many of which had their own unique coinage. 

Numismatics in India is really exciting. Every coin allows you to understand history at a deeper level. What we have been taught in school is nothing when compared with the number of ancient dynasties that ruled over the Indian subcontinent.

How I found my calling by collecting Old Indian Coins

5 years back, I was a boring man with no particular interests in life. The moment I was introduced to the hobby of collecting old Indian coins, my life changed for the better drastically. I was pursuing a normal day job in the IT industry with a decent salary. I had everything in terms of material possessions and comforts, but I felt incomplete deep within. I was constantly searching for something that would make me happy internally. There was a sense of unrest within me when I realized that there was no meaning to the life I was leading. I had no sense of direction really with every passing day.

One day, my uncle showed me his collection of ancient Indian coins and my eyes lit up. He kept sharing the historical significance of the collection of old Indian coins that he had built over a period of ten long years.  The more we talked about Indian old coins, the more I was fascinated by them. I borrowed one the ancient Indian coins from my uncle to start my own collection. Suddenly, I started having something to look forward to in life. After a long day at work, I used to think of ways in which I could easily grow my collection of Indian old coins. I searched for websites and online communities and started engaging in worthy conversations with fellow collectors from all over the world. I also started devoting some time for researching about all kinds of old Indian coins.  Slowly and steadily, I not only started growing my collection of ancient coins of India but also started improving my knowledge about them.

I found a new direction in life as soon as I started indulging completely in this amazing hobby. I am much happier now since I think I have found my inner calling in Old Coins of India.

Why are Old Indian Coins so desired among collectors?

Exhibitions and auction houses all over the world are always very excited about showcasing ancient Old Indian Coins. Have you ever wondered why? That’s because Indian Old Coins have rich historical stories behind them. If you have an old coin of India in your collection, then you should consider yourself to be extremely lucky. The value of Old Indian Coins appreciates over a period of time, depending on rarity and condition. Coins which are in great condition but are not very rare might not fetch you much in the future. That’s the reason why when you are looking to buy ancient Indian Coins, always check if they are rare. For that, you must accumulate a lot of knowledge about ancient Coins of India. There are several online portals where you can find Information on Old Indian Coins. Mintage World is one of the best websites where you can find well-categorized information about all kinds of Old Coins India. Once you know about the historical significance of an old coin of India, you have a better advantage over other dealers and collectors who simply collect coins.

The next point you should consider after rarity is condition. Rare Old Indian Coins with a clean strike and lustre is far more desired than ordinary ones. Since many Ancient Indian Coins were die struck, it is very difficult to find coins that depict obverse and reverse designs in totality. Silver coins generally have a tendency to oxidize when they come in contact with moisture in the air. It is always advised to place these coins inside good quality coin holders so that they remain fresh as ever. You wouldn’t want to face a situation where an interesting old coin of India that you posses loses its market value due to oxidation.
Last but not the least, even if you are looking to collect old Indian coins just as an investment, it is crucial to keep acquiring knowledge from time to time.
   

What to Look For While Collecting Ancient Indian Coins

There is a general human tendency to do away the old and welcome the new. This is great in certain situations but can snap back bad in certain other situations. Take for example the history and traditions of India. We are moving ahead in such a pace that we are fast forgetting the essence of true India. I believe that we should never forget where we come from and make an effort to stay connected to our roots. By learning about old Indian coins you can do just that almost perfectly. Thousands of emperors and rulers have issued various kinds of Ancient Indian Coins over the years. Each one of them is peculiar and shares a unique story. As a responsible Indian, it is our duty to understand the richness of our past. This will give us an objective outlook towards where we are headed in the future.

Right from ancient times, the Indian subcontinent has been the birthplace for different kinds of coinage. The history of ancient India is broadly classified into sixteen janapadas based on time periods and geographies. I feel extremely lucky for owning an old coin of India that belongs to the Magadha mauryan dynasty. Most collectors are curious of nature. We do not stop at simply collecting old coins of India. We feel satisfied only after we get to the depths of the history behind these Indian old coins. Even medieval India saw a revolution in coinage when Mughal and Maratha emperors issued beautiful coins. Who wouldn’t love to own a beautiful Ancient Indian Coin that was issued by Shahjahan featuring the sun signs? Some of these gold mohurs have been auctioned for impressive amounts at various auctions not only in India, but abroad as well. You can only imagine the kind of demand that old coins of India have throughout the world!

Basic Tips For New Collectors Looking To Collect Old Indian Coins

Nothing in life is constant but the most important things leaves a mark behind. Same is the case with old Indian coins. There is something mystical about them that keeps me passionate about numismatics. Very few of us know what numismatics actually means. It is a term given to the study of coins. People who engage in numismatics are known as numismatist. Every numismatist develop his or her own likes. For example, I specialise in Indian old coins from the ancient and medieval times.  The best part about this hobby is that you are continuously learning something new every day. Indian history has so much to explore that one lifetime would not suffice. The more you read about old Indian coins, the more there is to learn. One thing leads to the other, almost like solving a mystery. If you are new to this hobby and are wondering where to start, then I have some tips for you. Keep reading and let me know if you have any doubts or queries.

First thing first, pick a dynasty or a ruler that you admire the most. Then start reading about them. Most experts stress on the importance of buying good books before you buy coins. Numismatics is nothing if you are not acquiring knowledge on a constant basis. When I started off collecting ancient Indian coins, I remember my uncle telling me to start reading about the rulers who minted those coins. If you are simply thinking of hoarding up ancient coins of India to make some extra money, then you cannot be considered as a numismatist, you are just a dealer. The next thing you should start doing is search for people who are also interested in collecting Indian old coins. The internet today has helped in making this world a smaller place. It has become extremely easy to connect with a numismatist who is sitting at the other end of the world. As you start building your network and showcasing what you have, you are invariably going to start increasing the number of coins in your collection. And with every new addition of old Indian coins, you must also keep upgrading your knowledge accordingly.

These are very basic tips for someone who just wants to start building a collection of old Indian coins. Hope you like them!

My world of Old Indian Coins

There are times in life when you feel that everything has come to a standstill. You need something to cling on to, something to immerse yourself into. Hobbies are excellent mediums through which you can forget everything about your worries almost instantly. As a kid, I was very shy boy and did not have any kind of liking for any particular thing as such. Like every other kid in my class, I had no idea what destiny had in store for me; in fact we never thought about destiny and simply went with the flow. We did almost everything that was told to us. I was introduced to the world of old Indian coins at the age of seven by my grandfather.

My grandfather also was a passionate collector of Old Indian Coins when he was young. He had some connections with friends who were also into this unique hobby. Over a period of time, he kept growing his collection. He once told me that he probably loved his collection of Indian coin more than his own wife. Even though he laughed out loud after that statement, his eyes told me that there was some amount of truth behind those words. We used to visit our native place every year during summer vacations. It was like every other vacation; the only difference this time being that Grandpa showed me his amazing collection of old coins India. I was lost, lost into a whole new world. There was no looking back. I spent that entire vacation talking to my grandfather understanding different aspects of all the old coins India that he had collected. Each one of them had an interesting story behind it. I never got tired of listening to them. I took a few ancient Indian coins from his collection back home. 

I shut myself inside my room and spent hours gazing at those beauties. There was something about these ancient Indian coins that make me smile even today. Probably, they remind me of my grandfather, probably they are special as they showed me a new ray of light every time I am feeling low.