Old Indian Coinage and Their Exceptional Varieties

Indian coinage has always been a hot topic of discussion among numismatists and collectors all over the world. Let’s take a look at four ancient coins that were issued by four different dynasties like the Guptas, Western Kshatrapas, Satavahanas and Vrishnis.   

Gold Dinar of Kumaragupta – I

These amazing old Indian coins were issued under Kumaragupta – I (also known as Mahendraditya) of Gupta dynasty who ruled from 415 AD to 455 AD. This Gold dinar weighs around 7 to 8 grams and has a diameter that ranges from 19 to 22 millimetres. If you like researching about rare coins of ancient India, then this Gupta period Archer type variety B, is something you should definitely look out for. The obverse side is Die Struck featuring the King standing to the left, holding an arrow in his right hand and a bow in his left. The standard Garuda can be seen on the left. The word "Ku" is inscribed below the left hand while a crescent can be seen above. The uncertain legend starts with the texts "jayati mahitalam" and ends at "ptah". The reverse side depicts a Goddess sitting on a lotus, her right hand is empty. Legend in Brahmi reads "Shri - mahendrah"

Silver Drachma of Western Kshatrapas

This old coin of India was issued under a Western Kshatrapas – Kardamaka ruler named Damajadasri II. Damajadasri II ruled only for 1 year from 232 AD to 233 AD, due to which this Silver Drachma are considered to be special in the field of numismatics. This historical old Indian coins were die-struck in 1.96 to 2.35 grams of silver. It depicts the year date 154 according to Saka Calendar system. The obverse side depicts the king’s Bust with the Saka date behind the head. The reverse side depicts a three-arched hill, a crescent above; a river or a wavy line below and the sun. A Sanskrit inscription reads Rajno mahaksatrapasa Rudrasenaputrasa Rajna (or h) ksatrapasa Damajadasriyah.

Extremely Rare Potin Coin of Satavahana Ruler Pulumavi

These ancient Indian coins were issued under the Satavahana ruler Pulumavi. It is die-struck in 1 to 5 grams of Potin and has a diameter of 15 to 20 millimetres. The wonderful Indian Old Coins belong to the Elephant Type Class I series and are considered to be extremely rare. The obverse side depicts an elephant facing the right with an upraised trunk. A Brahmi legend reads "Rano siri Pulohamavisa". The reverse side depicts an Ujjain symbol with a pellet in each orb and a tree in a railing below. 

Silver Coin of Vrishnis

These ancient coins of India were issued by an anonymous ruler of Vrishnis dynasty somewhere around c.100 AD. They were die-struck in 2.15 grams of silver. The designs on these old coins in India are eye-catchy. The obverse side depicts the Nandipada standard in a railing with a composite animal, made of half lion and half elephant. A circular Brahmi legend reads 'Vrishni rajajna ganasya tratarasya'. The reverse side depicts a wheel with fourteen spokes and a circular Kharoshthi legend that reads 'Vrishni-rajanna-ganasa-tratarasa' within a pellet border.

Hope you enjoyed exploring these outstanding examples of ancient Indian coinage. Their designs and history symbolise our country’s cultural heritage.

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. 

Let’s Dive Into the Amazing History of Ancient Coins in India

Ancient Coins in India are one of the earliest known issued coins on the planet, alongside the Chinese and Lydians. The oldest coin of India was punch-marked coins that were called Puranas, Karshapanas, or Pana. They were printed in the sixth century BC by the Mahajanapadas of old India. They were printed in the sixth century BC by the Mahajanapadas of old India, including Gandhara, Kuntala, Kuru, Panchala, Shakya, Surasena, and Saurashtra. These Coins from India were made of silver of a standard weight however with a sporadic shape. This was picked up by cutting up silver bars and after that creation of the right weight was done by cutting the edges of the coin.

The one of oldest of the Coins in India is the bent-bar of Satamana that is unusually shaped. It is accepted to have been given by the Kuru and Panchala domains in north-focal India between 450BC and 350BC. The thick, somewhat bowed billon (poor quality silver) is roughly 22 to 24mm long, 11 to 14mm wide and about 3mm thick. A rough seven-outfitted "Taxila" image is on either end on the curved side of the bar, the raised side is clear. The coins are designed according to the silver Taxila and Gandhara bowed bar coins utilized in what is currently Pakistan. It is an intriguing and reasonable case of an early Indian coin.

There are more rare coins of India. Some of the few rare coin in India are –

• The Vimshatika coin from the Magadha Janapada dynasty. This is a very rare coin minted with the punching mark technique. Its theme is Abstract, Six-Armed Symbol, and Sun, which is also, features on the obverse on the coin.

• The 5 Shan coin of the Kashi Janapada is another rare coin. It was also punched marked coin with four punches. The theme and obverse of the coin has two abstract symbols and two flowers.

• The 4 Shanas or the 1/2 Shatamana from the Ayodhya Janapada dynasty has also received the very rare coin status. This irregular shaped coin has a floral theme. The obverse side of coin has a dot in the center with 'C' shaped symbol arranged in a triangle with a white flower with a dark circle.

To know more about antique coin of India visit the website of Mintage World. Here you can read and explore the amazing coinage of India.

Learn About the Different Categories of Indian Coins Before You Start Collecting

Coins of India come in innumerable varieties and it is almost impossible to study them if we don’t have a clear understanding of their categories. Whenever you add a new Indian coin to your collection, research about its variety first and then dig deep into its history. The more knowledge you acquire about coins In India, the better your collection would be. Let’s take a look at the major categories and sub-categories of Indian coins today.

Ancient Coins of India
The first level of categorisation is based on time period namely, ancient, medieval, colonial and modern. Ancient coins of India can be further classified as coins issued by Janapadas, the ones issued by Indian Empires, Kingdoms or Dynasties, Ancient Indian coins from the southern part of the subcontinent, coins struck by Ancient invaders and finally the coins produced by ancient city states of India.

Medieval Period Coins of India
Medieval India coins can be further classified as coins issued under the Delhi Sultanates and other sultans, Medieval India coins issued by the Mughal Empire, coins struck by the Indian princely states and coins produced by Hindu Empires and dynasties like Marathas, Vijayanagar etc. during the medieval period.

Indian Coins from Colonial Period
Colonial coins of India are the ones that were struck under European powers and trading companies like Dutch East India Company, Danish East India Company, French East India Company, East India Company, Madras Presidency Coins, Bengal Presidency Coins, Bombay Presidency Coins, British India, Indo-Portuguese, Kingdom of Portugal, Republic of Portugal and Ceylon.

Republic Coins of India
Finally we have the modern coins in India that were issued and circulated after India got
independence from the British Regime on 15th August 1947. These coins can be further classified into two groups namely, Anna series coins of India and republic India coins that follow a decimal coinage system.

Each of the subcategories mentioned above can be further divided based on the names of rulers and dynasties. Now you can imagine how vast Indian numismatics is. The idea is to keep researching about each of these varieties so that you can build an impressive Collection of Indian Coins. Pick up a category of your choice and start building a series based on its subcategories.

4 Amazing Coins of India form 4 Different Eras

There is something about Coins of India that make them extremely desirable among numismatists and coin collectors form all over the world. Each of these beautiful Indian coins has a lot of historical significance. They also share a lot of information about the traditions and cultures followed during a particular era. Based on time period, Indian coins can be classified into four main categories namely, ancient, medieval, colonial and modern. Let’s take a look at some of the most amazing coins of India belonging to each of these four categories.


Ancient Coins of India

Gandhara Janapada was one of the earliest Janapadas that existed from around 600 BC to 300 BC. The silver Shatamana coins issued by Gandhara Janapada are considered to the earliest coins of the world. These coins were rectangular in shape and weighed around 11.5 grams. The weighing standards were maintained by using rati seeds. These rare Indian coins featured designs only on one side. The other side depicted two six-petal flowers on the two ends of the elongated planchets. The design was imprinted on the planchet using the punch-mark process.

 Indian Coins of the Medieval Period

The Gold Hon coins that were issued during the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are extremely rare. These beautiful medieval India Coins were made out of 2.9 to 3.5 grams of gold. These coins were die-struck and featured Devanagri legends on both sides. The Devanagri legend on the obverse reads Shri Raja Shiva within row of dots.  The Devanagri legend on the reverse reads Chhatrapati within row of dots. Many auction houses around the world have sold this coin for a very good amount.

 Old Indian Coins from Colonial Era

The British East India Company had issued Gold coins of the denomination 1 Mohur featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse. These extremely rare Indian coins issued in 1841 weighed around 11.66 grams and had a diameter of 26 millimetres.  These coins were die-struck at Calcutta Mint featuring the bust of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the continuous legend: VICTORIA QUEEN 1841, within a raised, toothed rim. The reverse depicted a standing lion facing left with a palm tree above. Other inscriptions included EAST INDIA COMPANY, ONE MOHUR and YEK ASHRAFI in Persian, within a raised, toothed rim.

 Republic India coins

The Government of India had issued a 50 Paise stainless steel coin in the year 2013 at Kolkata Mint. These Republic India coins are scarce and featured the emblem of India flanked by BHARAT in Devanagari and INDIA in roman on the obverse. The reverse depicted the denomination 50 PAISE in English as well as Devanagari. The word PAISE is also written in Roman. The year date 2013 is surrounded by flower scrolls. If you spot this Indian coin with no mint mark, you are lucky!

We have only talked about four Indian coins here. There are hundreds of other varieties to be explored!

Coins of India that Everyone Desire

 “Coins of India” is a topic that is discussed widely among numismatists all over the world. The reason why they are so popular is because of the historical stories that they hold. Based on the time period, these amazing Indian coins can be categorized into four major categories namely, Ancient, Medieval, Colonial and Modern. Let’s take a look at some examples from each category.
Gandhara Janapada existed from 600 BC to 300 BC. They issued rectangular-shaped punch-marked coins of the denomination 1 Shatamana. These coins of India were struck on around 11.5 grams of silver and featured two 6-petal flowers at both the ends. These coins are also considered as the oldest in the world.

Magadha Janapada existed from 600 BC to 550 BC. They issued silver coins of the denomination Vimshatika weighing somewhere around 5.5 grams. These punch-marked coins feature Six-armed symbol, Sun symbol and two abstract symbols on the reverse.  If you are looking for a rare Indian coin, then you could add one of these to your collection. The Kashi Janapada issued punch-marked silver coins of the denomination 5 Shanas between 600 BC and 525 BC. These rare Indian coins featured two abstract symbols and two flowers. 
When it comes to medieval period coins of India, you can look for octagonal-shaped Ahom coins issued under Jayadhvaja Simha. They were denominated as rupee and were struck in the year 1570.  The Obverse featured the text Sri Sri Hari Hara Charana Parayanasya while the Reverse depicted the text Sri Sri Svarga Naraya Nasya Sake 1570. These are extremely rare coins in India which are very difficult to find.
Then there is the round Hon gold coin issued under Shivaji Maharaj the great. The obverse features
This is just the beginning; there are several other amazing Indian coins that can make your collection out of this world!

the text Shri Raja Shiva while the reverse depicts the inscription Chhatrapati. Won’t it be an honour to own coins issued by one of the greatest warriors of Indian history? You can also search for beautiful coins from the Paramaras of Malwa dynasty issued under the ruler Udayaditya. This Gold Dinar weighed around 4.07. The obverse featured Goddess Lakshmi seated with cross legs. The reverse depicted the Nagari legend 'Srimad Gangeyyadeva'.

When you’re collecting Coins of India, Study the Evolution of Coinage

Everybody loves collecting coins of India but many of them do not really know how coinage evolved over the years in the Indian subcontinent. If you are a true numismatist, you will take some efforts to understand this aspect about Indian coins. It all started when cowrie shells and beads were used for transactions. Barter system was prevalent before coinage was invented. Barter had its own problems related to evaluating commodities. There was a need for a uniform system that could value all kinds of items for transactions. It is believed that the first coins of India were punchmarked Shatmana coins. They were struck in silver and were rectangular in shape. They belong to Gandhara Janapada and were issued between 600 t0 300 BC.

There were many other Janapadas out there which used to issue coins of their own. These include Magadha, Magadha Mauryan, Ayodhya, Shakya, Kuntala, Kashi etc. You should consider yourself to be lucky if you have an Indian coin belonging to one of these Janapadas. Then there were great ancient empires like Western Kshatrapas, Guptas, Satavahanas etc which also issued some absolutely stunning Indian coins. Gold coins of Gupta period are sought after even today and are sold for great prices at auction houses all over the world.

When it comes to ancient and early medieval kingdoms, Central India, Malwa, Saurashtra, Vidarbha, Narmada valley are some of the prominent territories which issued unique coins in India. Ancient coins of South India is a completely different category altogether. The most famous among them are Pandyas, Banawasi, Pallavas, Chera etc. The Indian subcontinent was attacked by foreign invaders too since ancient times. They captured territories and started ruling over them. Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythian and Kushan coins are also some of the most desired coins of India in the world of numismatics. Apart from mighty Kingdoms, there were independent city states as well like Mathura, Kolhapur, Ayodhya, Taxila etc. Each of these city states also produced unique Indian coins of their own.

We have only touched upon ancient coins as of now. There is a lot more to explore when it comes to medieval and modern coins of India. You will start falling in love with all of them when you start studying about the evolution of Indian coinage. 

Make Your Kids Fall in Love with Coins of India

Certain things age gracefully with time. No, I am not talking about my grandmother. I am referring to my collection of old Indian coins. With every passing year, they seemingly become more precious. You will be surprised to know how many centuries these beautiful coins of India have lived through after which they have fallen into my hands. I consider myself to be lucky that way. It truly becomes your responsibility to take care of these pieces of history and pass on your hobby to the next generation. It is sometimes difficult to make kids realize the importance of history, especially when they are sucked into their video games and cartoon series. But you must not give up. Find other interesting ways in which kids can be taught about coins in India along with the interesting stories hidden in them.

Stories are something kids would always be interested in. We as parents have to be as creative as possible so that they learn certain important aspects about our history from time to time. You can then show them an interesting Indian coin from your collection. This way, they would be able to relate to what they are studying. Mugging up answers from history textbooks can be taxing not just for kids but for adults as well. Introduce them to the hobby of coin collecting and motivate them to start building their own collection of Indian coins. Once they add a new Indian coin to their collection, you can discuss in detail about the emperor or dynasty who issued them. For example, if they get to see a Gupta Era coin, then you can teach them about Samudra Gupta, Art and Architecture of that era, Literature and scholars from that time period etc.

People generally do not assess the seriousness of this problem carefully. As Indians are quickly adopting western cultures, our rich heritage and tradition face a real big danger of getting extinct one day. It is very important to revive the history of our land so that the present generation starts valuing it. By studying coins of India, children would start taking keen interest in history which will indirectly help us achieve this goal.

Find Unity in Diversity on Indian Coin

India is known for its Unity in Diversity. From languages to culture and tradition, India is a world in itself. That is the reason why foreigners from all over the world visit India time and again. We being Indians don’t really have an idea about the diverse traditions that are followed in different parts of the subcontinent. Apart from culture, each region has a unique historical significance. Each territory was ruled by various dynasties and emperors. Coins of India are a reflection of our vast history. By collecting coins in India, you can get a clear overview about the various dynasties that ruled the subcontinent.

Mintage World has a detailed and elaborate database on coins of India. The website offers images along with complete obverse and reverse descriptions that help researchers, numismatists and coin collectors in a great way. The information displayed is well-categorized, making browsing extremely simple. All you have to do is select a dynasty and keep searching for your favorite Indian coin. Knowledge is essential for every coin collector, and this website is where you will find everything you ever wanted to know about coins of India, under one single roof, on a single online platform. You wouldn’t have to visit multiple websites and check for authenticity when you are conducting your research here.

I believe that every Indian should be aware about our diverse cultures and rich historical traditions. Through the study of Indian coin you can get several interesting insights. Historians have been researching on Indian coins which allow them to take a scientific approach towards history. The inscriptions and beautiful designs found on ancient coins in India talk a lot about that particular era or that particular king. Even students and the youth should be introduced to the hobby of collecting Indian coins to a dash of fun while studying history. Start collecting Indian coin to understand about the diverse aspects of Indian history like never before.

Collecting Indian Coin is enjoyable and profitable at the same time!

You can never underestimate the value of anything in life. Nothing or nobody is small; everything has its own importance and value, which might be unnoticeable at the first sight. I learnt this when I started collecting Indian coins. When you look at coins in India, they might seem to be very small, but in reality they can fetch you a lot of money if they are rare. Coins in India were minted since ancient times. In fact one of the first coins in the world was Indian coin. Auctions all over the world have a lot of respect for Indian coin because of its rich historical background. Year after year we get to hear about coins in India that were sold for an impressive amount at auctions. 

Initially, when I started this hobby, I had no idea what was getting into. The moment I got hooked on to coins in India, I realized that there is an ocean out there to be explored. From a small copper coin of Akbar, I started my journey of collecting Indian coin. There was no looking back ever since then. At first, I used to buy anything and everything that I fancied. But later I realized that coins which are in a better condition and which are rarer are far more valuable in the market. Thereafter, I started controlling my emotions. I started saving up for coins of India that were rare to find. If not, I looked for Indian coin that are in a better condition. This way, I started improving the quality of my collection rather than focusing on plain quantity. Over a period of 2 years I had some notable Indian coin and then I decided to start my own dealership. I found out there are several collectors and investors who are interested in Indian coin. 

Out of my experience, I got to know that a coin that you own today can fetch you thousands in the future. So basically, the hobby is not just enjoyable but also highly profitable if you know how to play the game well.

How Coins India reduced my stress levels!

Sometimes, there are moments in life that make us feel down. Stagnation creeps in and there is nothing as such to look forward to. All we desire are ways in which we can stay relaxed and bring back that smile on our face. Pursuing an interesting hobby is extremely satisfying which helps us channelize our energies into something that keeps us excited. Other activities like watching movies, working out at a gym, listening to movies or playing a sport can also release that tension. I somehow got hooked on to collecting Coins India. And there is a story behind how I got inclined towards collecting Indian coins. 

I must confess that I was always stressed before I started collecting coins in India. Work pressure, family responsibilities were some of the reasons behind this mounting stress levels. I did not pay attention to this in the beginning, but later I started feeling lethargic and my energy levels started declining. I went to a doctor and found out that I had a blood pressure problem. I was only 35 and I felt that there is something seriously wrong with me. Though those were just initial days, I did not want situations to go out of control. I wanted to start a hobby and started wondering what I was always interested in as a kid. Then it struck me that history was a subject that I totally loved in school. I joined the dots and realised that I should start collecting Coins India. I immediately joined various facebook groups that are into Coins India and upgrading my knowledge. I looked around, but I could not find anybody among my friends or family members who are into Indian coins. So I did not wait. I made a few facebook friends randomly and met a few of them as well.

There was no looking back from there. I kept on researching about coins India and making more online friends. Slowly but steadily I started growing my collection of coins in India. If you truly want to do something, there is nothing that can stop you really. Also, my stress levels have gone down considerably and my BP is also under control.

Coins Of India that Trace Through Our Vibrant Past

India is a unique country that is known all over the world for several reasons. Some of them include the geography and topography of the subcontinent. Since India has a mix of mountains, plateaus and plains, you would find a difference in the kind of communities that have evolved in this part of the world. If you look at the history of India, you would come to know about several invasions and battles. This is a reason why you will see multiple cultures existing in harmony. No wonder why people from all over the world flock down to experience the true colors of India. Imagine a how different Coins Of India would be with so much cultural diversity around. Indian coins are picking up like crazy in the international markets. Collectors at first were not too keen to collect Indian coins because of their irregular sizes and unknown history. But over the recent past, auction trends have spotted favoritism for ancient coins of India. 

Some experts believe that Indian coins are the first ones to be ever struck in the world. These coins of India were called punch-marked coins. From ancient India until now, thousands of coins have been issued in India. Many of which have not yet been discovered. It is through the study of Indian coins that dynasties of various empires have been identified. If it wasn’t for these coins, there was no way how history can be studied so accurately. When ancient coins are discovered, they are put through a dating process which helps in finding out an approximate year in which they were minted. Besides that, many coins of India that were issued in the medieval period featured the year apart from the name of the emperor. 

With the help of coinage, historians have been able to trace through the rich history of India. If you take a journey through our vibrant past, anyone would be fascinated.