imported>BD2412: /* Punch-marked coinage */Fixing links to disambiguation pages, replaced: [[circa| → [[Wiktionary:circa|

2021-07-15T05:04:55Z

Punch-marked coinage: Fixing links to disambiguation pages, replaced: [[circa| → [[Wiktionary:circa|

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[[File:Kunindas coin with Chaitya.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Cast die-struck silver coin of the [[Kunindas]], 1st century BCE. These coins followed the Indo-Greek module.<ref>"A Maharaja named Amoghabhuti, who was the Raja of the Kunindas, is known from coins of the Indo-Greek module with legends sometimes in both Brahmi and Kharoshthi, but in some cases in Brahmi only." in ''The History and Culture of the Indian People'' - Volume 2 by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar - 1951 - Page 161</ref>]]
'''Post-Mauryan coinage''' refers to the period of coinage production in [[India]], following the breakup of the [[Maurya Empire]] (321–185 BCE).

The centralized Mauryan power ended during a [[Coup d'état]] in 185 BCE leading to the foundation of the [[Shunga Empire]]. The vast and centralized Maurya Empire was broken into numerous new polities. In the east, the newly formed [[Sunga Empire]] utilized the industries pre-established in [[Pataliputra]].

[[Yona]] kings, which were once incorporated by or allied with the Mauryan Empire, settled in the Indus forming [[Indo-Greek Kingdom|Indo-Greek Kingdoms]] bringing new coinage practices.<ref name="Brown2">[[iarchive:TheCoinsOfIndia_201512|The Coins Of India, by Brown, C.J. p.13-20]]</ref> These techniques were utilized by the [[Indo-Scythians|Indo-Scythian Kingdoms]] and [[Kushan Empire]].

In the south the [[Satavahana Empire]] appeared, all with their specific coinage. The unified coinage, made of [[punch-marked coins]], also broke up. In the northwest, several small independent entities were formed, which started to strike their own coins.

== Technology ==

===Punch-marked coinage===
[[File:Gandhara1.JPG|thumb|Coins of Early Gandhara Janapada: AR Shatamana and one-eighth Shatamana (round), Taxila-Gandhara region, [[Wiktionary:circa|c.]] 600–300 BCE]]
These political changes were accompanied by technological changes in coin production techniques. Before the collapse of the Maurya Empire, the main type of coinage was [[punch-marked coins]]. After manufacturing a sheet of silver or silver alloys, coins were cut out to the proper weight, and then impressed by small punch-dies. Typically from 5 to 10 punch dies could be impressed on one coin.<ref name="Brown">[[iarchive:TheCoinsOfIndia_201512|The Coins Of India, by Brown, C.J. p.13-20]]</ref> Punch-marked coins continued to be used for about three more centuries in the south, but in the north they disappeared in favour of the production of cast-die coinage.<ref>Ancient Indian Coinage, Rekha Jain, D.K. Printworld Ltd. p.137</ref>

===Cast die-struck coinage===
The types of coins were replaced at the fall of the Maurya Empire by cast, die-struck coins.<ref>Recent Perspectives of Early Indian History Book Review Trust, New Delhi, Popular Prakashan, 1995, p.151 [https://books.google.com/books?id=J4-kubt-SsoC&pg=PA151]</ref> Each individual coins was first cast by pouring a molten metal, usually copper or silver, into a cavity formed by two molds. These were then usually die-struck while still hot, first on just one side, and then on the two sides at a later period. The coin devices are Indian, but it is thought that this coin technology was introduced from the West, possibly from the neighboring [[Greco-Bactrian]] kingdom.

==Northwestern cast die-struck coinage==
{{main|Post-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara}}

===Single-die coins===
The most ancient of the coins are those that were die-cast on one side only, the other side remaining blank.<ref name="Brown"/> They seem to start as early 220 BCE, that is, already in the last decades of the Maurya Empire.<ref>[https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=259870 CNG Coins notice]</ref> Some of these coins were created before the [[Indo-Greek]] invasions (dated to circa 185 BCE, start of the [[Yavana era]]), while most of the others were created later. These coins incorporate a number of symbols, in a way which is very reminiscent of the previous punch-marked coins, except that this time the technology used was cast single die-struck coinage.<ref name="Jain">Ancient Indian Coinage, Rekha Jain, D.K.Printworld Ltd, p.114</ref>

====Single-die coins (220-185 BCE)====
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 auto;" align="center" colspan="1" cellpadding="3" style="font-size: 80%; width: 100%;"
|align=center colspan=1 style="font-size: 100%;"| '''Single-die coins before Indo-Greek invasions (220-185 BCE)'''
|-
|<gallery mode="packed">
File:Taxila (local coinage). Circa 220-185 BC Column and Hill.jpg|Taxila single-die local coinage. Column and [[arched-hill symbol]] (220-185 BCE).
File:Taxila (local coinage) Circa 220-185 BC Karshapana.jpg|Taxila single-die local coinage. Pile of stones, hill, river and [[Swastika]] (220-185 BCE).
Taxila (local coinage). Circa 220-185 BC. Hill and River.jpg|Taxila single-dye coin. Pile of stones, hill, river and unknown symbols (220-185 BCE).
File:Taxila (local coinage). Circa 220-185 BC.jpg|Taxila local single-die coinage (220-185 BCE).<ref>[https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=259870 CNG Coins coin notice]</ref>
</gallery>
|}

====Single-die coins after the Greco-Bactrian invasions (185 BCE)====
The year 185 BCE is the approximate date the [[Greco-Bactrians]] invaded India. This date marks an evolution in the design of single-die cast coins, as deities and realistic animals were introduced.<ref name="Jain"/> At the same time coinage technology also evolved, as double-die coins (engraved on both sides, obverse and reverse) started to appear.<ref name="Jain"/> The archaeological excavations of coins have shown that these coins, as well as the new double die coins, were contemporary with those of the [[Indo-Greeks]].<ref name="Jain"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 auto;" align="center" colspan="1" cellpadding="3" style="font-size: 80%; width: 100%;"
|align=center colspan=1 style="font-size: 100%;"| '''Single-die coinage after the Indo-Greek invasions (185 BCE)'''
|-
|<gallery mode="packed" heights="100px">
File:Taxila (local coinage). Circa 185-168 BC.Hill and Tree.jpg|Taxila coin with hill and tree-in-railing (185-168 BCE).
File:Taxila single dye coin.jpg|Taxila single-die coin with [[Lakshmi]] and [[arched-hill symbol]] (185-160 BCE).
File:Taxila single die coin with bull.jpg|Taxila single die coin with bull and arched-hill symbol (185-168 BCE).
File:Taxila (local coinage). Circa 185-168 BC Karshapana.jpg|Taxila coin (185-168 BCE).
File:TaxilaCoin200-100BCE.JPG|Taxila coin.
File:TaxilaCoinBM.JPG|Taxila coin.
</gallery>
|}

===Double-die coins (185 BCE onward)===
[[File:Triratna on Taxila coin 185-168 BCE detail.jpg|thumb|[[Triratna]] symbol on a Taxila coin, 185-168 BCE (detail).]]
Progressively, after 185 BCE and the Greek invasion, coins were cast on both sides.<ref name="Brown"/> These coins are generally anonymous, and can carry [[Brahmi]] or [[Kharoshthi]] legends. These coins have quite specific types, depending mainly on the region where they were struck. Coins with a lion device are mainly known from [[Taxila]], while coins with other symbols such as the [[Swastika]] or the [[Bodhi tree]] are attributed to the region of [[Gandhara]].<ref name="Brown"/> These coins were cast during the rule of Indo-Greek kings [[Pantaleon]] and [[Agathocles]] in the area of [[Gandhara]], and they are generally contemporary with those of Indo-Greek rulers.<ref name="Jain"/><ref>[https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=23986 CNG notice]</ref>

====Main designs====
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0 auto;" align="center" colspan="1" cellpadding="3" style="font-size: 80%; width: 100%;"
|align=center colspan=1 style="font-size: 100%;"| '''Main designs'''
|-
|<gallery mode="packed" heights="100px">
File:Taxila coin with wheel and Buddhist symbols.jpg|Taxila coin with wheel and Buddhist symbols. (185-160 BCE).
File:Taxila coin.jpg|Taxila coin with elephant and lion (185-168 BCE)
File:Taxila Post Mauryan local coinage Circa 185-168 BC.jpg|Taxila coin, elephant with [[arched-hill symbol]] (185-168 BCE).
File:Taxila (local coinage) Symbols.jpg|Taxila coin (circa 180 BCE).
File:Taxila (local coinage) Circa 180-160 BC Half Karshapana.jpg|Taxila coin, with hill, empty cross and [[palmette]] (180-160 BCE).
</gallery>
|}

Later, humped or elephant images are known from [[Ayodhya]], [[Kausambi]], [[Panchala]] and [[Mathura]]. The coins of Ayodhia generally have a humped bull on the reverse, while the coins of [[Kausambi]] display a tree with railing.<ref name="Brown"/>

==Indian-standard coinage of the Greeks (185 BCE onward)==
{{Main|Post-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara}}
The [[Indo-Greeks]], following their invasion of the Indian subcontinent circa 185 BCE, in turn started to mint their own coins in the Indian standard (Indian weight, square shape, and less often round shape) with bilingual inscriptions, from the reign of [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]] (190-180 BCE).

===Symbolism===
In addition to their own [[Attic]] coins, Greek kings thus started to issue bilingual Greek-[[Prakrit]] coins in the Indian standard, often taking over numerous symbols of the Post-Mauryan Gandhara coins, such as the [[arched-hill symbol]] and the tree-in-railing or Goddess [[Lakshmi]] at the beginning, and depictions of the bull and elephant later.

===Legends===
Several coins of king [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]] use the [[Kharoshthi]] legend ''Akathukreyasa'' "[[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]]" on the obverse, and ''Hirañasame'' on the reverse (as one of the known coins of Taxila above). ''Hirañasame'' would mean "The Golden Hermitage", an area of [[Taxila]] (preferred interpretation), or if read '''Hitajasame'' would mean "Good-fame possessing", a direct translation of "Agathokles"<ref name="books.google.com">[https://books.google.com/books?id=0NA3AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA835 Taxila, Amanda Gosh, p.835, Nos. 46-48]</ref><ref name="Indo-Grecques, Bopearachchi p.176">Monnaies Gréco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques, Bopearachchi, p.176</ref><ref>Geography from Ancient Indian Coins & Seals, Parmanand Gupta, Concept Publishing Company, 1989, p.126 [https://books.google.fr/books?id=LzHpZ5N5MhcC&pg=PA126]</ref>
{{clear}}
<gallery>
File:Pantaleon with Lakshmi and Lion.jpg|Coinage of [[Pantaleon]] with dancing woman ([[Lakshmi]]?) and lion.
File:Agatocles Chaitya.jpg|Coin of [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]]. '''Obv''' [[Arched-hill symbol|Six-arched hill symbol]] with star on top, [[Kharoshthi]] legend ''Akathukreyasa'' "[[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]]". '''Rev''' Tree-in-railing and legend ''Hirañasame''.<ref name="books.google.com"/><ref name="Indo-Grecques, Bopearachchi p.176"/>
File:Bilingual Coin of Agathocles of Bactria.jpg|Coin of [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]]. '''Obv''' Stupa surmounted by a star, [[Kharoshthi]] legend ''Akathukreyasa'' "[[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]]". '''Rev''' vegetal symbol and ''hirañasame'' (185-168 BCE).<ref name="books.google.com"/>
File:AgathoklesCoinage.jpg|Indian coinage of [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]], with Buddhist lion and [[Lakshmi]].
File:Coin of the Bactrian King Agathokles.jpg|Coin of [[Agathocles of Bactria|Agathocles]] with [[Hindu]] deities: [[Vasudeva]]-[[Krishna]] and [[Balarama]]-[[Samkarshana]] (found at [[Ai-Khanoum]]).
</gallery>

===Normalization===
[[File:Helioclesii.jpg|thumb|300px|Bronze coin of [[Heliokles II]] (95-80 BCE) '''Obv:''' Bust of diademed king. Greek legend: BASILEOS DIKAIOU HELIOKLEOUS "Of King Heliocles the Just" '''Rev:''' Kharoshti (Indian) translation, elephant holding victory wreath.]]
Later on, from the second half of the reign of [[Apollodotus I]] (ruled 180-160 BCE), legends would become standardized, with simply the King's name and attribute in Greek on the obverse and Kharoshthi [[Prakrit]] on the reverse. The usage of Indian symbols would become much more restrained, generally limited to the illustration of the elephant and the [[zebu]] bull. There are two major exceptions however: [[Menander I]] and [[Menander II]] used the Indian [[Dharmachakra|Wheel of the Law]] on some of their coins, suggesting an affiliation with [[Buddhism]], which is also described in literary sources.

However the usage of bilingualism would endure, at first coexisting with [[Attic]]-standard coins, and later becoming exclusive. The last Indo-Greek kings even went as far as issuing some Prakrit-only coinage. The period of Indo-Greek coinage in northwestern India would last until the beginning of our era.<ref name="Brown"/>

<gallery>
File:Apollodotus zebu with nandipada hump.jpg|Coin of [[Apollodotus I]] (180-160 BCE).
File:Menander with elephant.jpg|[[Menander I]] (155-130 BCE) coin with elephant.
File:Menander II with wheel.jpg|Silver Drachm of [[Menander II]] (95-80 BCE) with [[Zeus]] and [[Nike (mythology)|Nike]] handing a victory wreath to a [[Dharmachakra|Wheel of the Law]]<ref>Bopearachchi 4A and note 4; Bopearachchi & Rahman -; SNG ANS</ref>
File:Artemidoros pedigree coin.jpg|A coin of [[Artemidoros Aniketos|Artemidoros]] (85-80 BCE)
File:Strato II fine.jpg|Coin of the last Indo-Greek king [[Strato II]] (25 BCE-10 CE)
</gallery>

==Coinage of the Northwestern tribes==
[[File:Indian tribes between the Indus and the Ganges.jpg|thumb|300px|Location of the Vemakas relative to other groups: the [[Audumbaras]], the [[Kuninda]]s, the [[Vrishni]]s, the [[Yaudheya]]s, the [[Paurava]]s and the [[Arjunayana]]s.]]
With the influence of the Indo-Greeks in the northwest, local India tribes started to mint their own coins, often in a style reminiscent of the Indo-Greeks.<ref name="Jain 119">Ancient Indian Coinage, Rekha Jain, D.K. Printworld Ltd. p.119-124</ref> The silver coins of these tribes especially followed the Indo-Greek hemidrachm as well as the general design disposition of the coins (round legends surrounding central figures).<ref name="Jain 119"/> Coinage started in the 2nd century BCE, and increased in the 1st century with the waning of Indo-Greek power in the area. The most significant tribes in this respect were, in the 2nd century, the [[Agreya]]s, the [[Rajenya]]s, the [[Sibi]]s, the [[Yaudheya]]s and the [[Ksudraka]]s. In the 1st century BCE, they are the [[Audumbaras]], the [[Kunindas]], the [[Vrishni]], the [[Rajanya]]s and the [[Vemaka]]s. In the 1st century CE, the [[Malavas]] and the Kalutas.<ref name="Jain 119"/>

The rulers of [[Mathura]] in the 1st century BCE, known as the [[Mitra dynasty (Mathura)|Mitra dynasty]], also issued some important coins.

===Coinage of the Kunindas (1st century BCE)===
<gallery>
Image:KunindaCoin.JPG|Silver coin of the '''Kuninda''' Kingdom, c. 1st century BCE.
File:Kunindas coin with Chaitya.jpg|Another Kuninda coin.
File:Kunindas with Shiva.jpg|Coin of the Kunindas.
</gallery>

===Coinage of the Audumbaras (1st century BCE)===
<gallery>
File:Coin of Dharaghosha king of the Audumbaras.jpg|Coin of Dharaghosha, king of the Audumbaras, in the [[Indo-Greek]] style, circa 100 BCE.<ref name="Rapson">Ancient India, from the earliest times to the first century, A.D by Rapson, E. J. p.154 [https://archive.org/details/ancientindiafrom00raps]</ref>
File:Vrishni coin.png|Silver coin of a "King [[Vrishni]]" of the Audumbaras.<ref>Alexander Cunningham's ''Coins of Ancient India: From the Earliest Times Down to the Seventh Century'' (1891) p.70 [https://archive.org/stream/coinsancientind00cunngoog#page/n97/mode/2up]</ref>
File:Shiva temple with trident standard Audumbara State Punjab 1st century BCE.jpg|[[Shiva]] temple with trident standard, Audumbara State, [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], 1st century BCE.
</gallery>

===Coinage of the Yaudheyas (1st century BCE - 2nd century CE)===
<gallery>
File:Karttikeya With Spear And Cock in a coin of Yaudheyas.jpg|Kumāra Karttikeya with [[vel]] and [[rooster]], coin of the Yaudheyas (1st c. BCE)
File:SixHeadedKarttikeyaYaudheyaCoin.jpg|Six-headed [[Karttikeya]] on a Yaudheya coin. [[British Museum]].
File:YaudheyaCoin.jpg|Coin of the Yaudheyas with depiction of Kumāra [[Karttikeya]] (1st c. BCE)
File:Karttikeya shrine with anteloppe in a coin of Yaudheyas Punjab 2nd century CE.jpg|[[Karttikeya]] shrine with antelope. Yaudheya, Punjab, 2nd century CE
</gallery>

==Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthians, and Kushans==
{{see also|Kushan coinage}}
[[File:Rajuvula coin Northern Satrap with Greek legend and Athena Alkidemos.jpg|thumb|300px|Northern Satrap [[Rajuvula]]. '''Obv.''' Bust of king and Greek legend. '''Rev.''' [[Athena]] Alkidemos and [[Kharoshthi]] legend ''chatrapasa apratihatachakrasa rajuvulasa'' "the Satrap Rajuvula whose discus [cakra] is irresistible". These coins are found near [[Sankassa]] along the [[Ganges]] and in [[Eastern Punjab]]. Possibly minted in [[Sagala]].<ref name="Rosenfield">The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans, by John M. Rosenfield, University of California Press, 1967 p.135 [https://books.google.com/books?id=udnBkQhzHH4C&pg=PA135]</ref> The coins are derived from the [[Indo-Greek]] types of [[Strato II]].<ref name="Rosenfield"/>]]
Indo-Greek coinage in Gandhara would continue for nearly two centuries, until it was taken over by the coinage of the [[Indo-Scythians]], the [[Indo-Parthians]] and the [[Yuezhi]] (future [[Kushans]]).

Their coinage was almost completely derived from that of the Indo-Greeks, including the usage of the Greek language on the obverse down to the 2nd century CE with the [[Kushan]] king [[Kanishka]], or even the [[Western Satraps]] until the 4th century.

<gallery>
File:AzesIIFineCoin.jpg|Coin of [[Indo-Scythian]] ruler [[Azes II]].
File:GondopharesFineCoin.jpg|Coin of [[Indo-Parthian]] ruler [[Gondophares]].
File:Yuezhi copy of Heliocles I coin.jpg|[[Yuezhi]] copy of a coin of [[Greco-Bactrian]] king [[Heliocles]].
File:Plate XX Vima Kadphises.jpg|Coin of [[Kushan]] ruler [[Vima Kadphises]] with Greek legend.
</gallery>

==Eastern India: coinage of the Sungas==
The [[Shunga Empire]] was a new Indian dynasty that toppled the Maurya Empire and replaced it in the east of the [[Indian subcontinent]] from around 185 to 78 BCE. The dynasty was established by [[Pushyamitra Shunga]], who usurped the throne of the Mauryas. Its capital was [[Pataliputra]], but later emperors such as [[Bhagabhadra]] also held court at Besnagar (modern [[Vidisha]]) in eastern [[Malwa]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Stadtner |first=Donald |date=1975 |title=A Śuṅga Capital from Vidiśā |journal=Artibus Asiae |volume=37 |issue=1/2 |pages=101–104 |doi=10.2307/3250214 |jstor=3250214}}</ref>

The script used by the Shunga was a variant of [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]], and was used to write the Sanskrit language. The script is thought to be an intermediary between the [[Maurya]] and the [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]] Brahmi scripts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.proel.org/index.php?pagina=alfabetos/sunga |title=Silabario Sunga |work=proel.org}}</ref>

<gallery>
SungaCoin.JPG|Bronze coin of the Sunga period, Eastern India. 2nd–1st century BCE.
Shunga.JPG|Another Sunga coin
File:Sunga coin circa 150 BC 100 AD.jpg|Sunga coin circa 150 BCE-100 CE.
</gallery>

==Central India: coinage of the Satavahanas==
[[Image:Coin of Satkarni.jpg|thumb|[[Satakarni]] issue, [[Maharashtra]] – [[Vidarbha]] type (1st century BCE).]]
[[Image:Satavahana1stCenturyBCECoinInscribedInBrahmi(Sataka)Nisa.jpg|thumb|Satavahana 1st century BCE coin inscribed in Brahmi: "(Sataka)Nisa". [[British Museum]].]]
The [[Satavahana]]s at first issued relatively simple designs. Their coins also display various traditional symbols, such as elephants, lions, horses and chaityas ([[stupa]]s), as well as the "[[Ujjain]] symbol", a cross with four circles at the end.

Later, in the 1st or 2nd century CE, the Satavahanas became one of the earliest rulers to issue their own coins with portraits of their rulers, starting with king [[Gautamiputra Satakarni]], a practice derived from that of the [[Western Satraps]] he defeated, itself originating with the [[Indo-Greek]] kings to the northwest.

Satavahana coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features (curly hair, long ears and strong lips). They issued mainly lead and copper coins; their portrait-style silver coins were often struck over coins of the [[Western Kshatrapa]] kings.

The coin legends of the Satavahanas, in all areas and all periods, used a [[Prakrit]] dialect without exception. Some reverse coin legends are in [[Tamil language|Tamil]],<ref>{{cite book |author1=Keith E. Yandell Keith E. Yandell |author2=John J. Paul |title=Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucMeAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA253 |year=2013 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-136-81808-0 |page=253 }}</ref> and [[Telugu language]],<ref name=MP>{{cite book | last=Pollock | first=Sheldon | title=The Language of the Gods in the World of Men: Sanskrit, Culture, and Power in Premodern India | publisher=University of California Press| year=2003 | isbn=0-5202-4500-8 |page=290 }}</ref> which seems to have been in use in their heartland abutting the [[Godavari]], [[Kotilingala]], [[Karimnagar district|Karimnagar]] in [[Telangana]], [[Krishna district|Krishna]], [[Amaravathi village, Guntur district|Amaravati]], [[Guntur district|Guntur]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>Rapson, CLXXXVII</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2016}}

<gallery>
File:Coin of Gautamiputra Sri Yajna Satakarni.jpg|Coin of Gautamiputra [[Yajna Satakarni]] ({{reign|167|196 CE}}).

File:Indian ship on lead coin of Vashishtiputra Shri Pulumavi.jpg|Indian ship on lead coin of [[Vasisthiputra Sri Pulamavi]], testimony to the naval, seafaring and trading capabilities of the Satavahanas during the 1st–2nd century CE.
</gallery>

==Southern India==
{{see also|Pandya coinage}}

===Roman coinage===
{{see also|Indo-Roman trade relations}}
[[File:Roman gold coins excavated in Pudukottai India one coin of Caligula 31 41 and two coins of Nero 54 68.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Roman gold coins excavated in [[Pudukottai]], [[India]]. One coin of [[Caligula]] (37–41 CE), and two coins of [[Nero]] (54–68). [[British Museum]].]]
[[File:AugustusIndianImitation1stCenturyCE.jpg|thumb|A 1st century CE Indian imitation of a coin of Augustus, [[British Museum]].]]
Numerous hoards of Roman gold coins from the time of Augustus and emperors of the 1st and 2nd centuries CE have been uncovered in India, predominantly, but not exclusively, from southern India. A large number of Roman Aureii and Denari of Augustus to [[Nero]] spanning approximately 120 years found all along the route from about [[Mangalore]] through the [[Muziris]] area and around the southern tip of India to the south eastern Indian ports. These Roman coins were in circulation in southern India for a long time.<ref>Ancient Indian Coinage, Rekha Jain, p.88</ref>

==See also==
* [[Coinage of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Historic Indian currency and coinage}}

[[Category:Coins of India]]

Post-Mauryan coinage - Revision history

imported>BD2412: /* Punch-marked coinage */Fixing links to disambiguation pages, replaced: [[circa| → [[Wiktionary:circa|