Coins: India
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Ancient coins
Rajasthan
Dec 8, 2024: The Times of India
From: Dec 8, 2024: The Times of India
Jaipur : Archaeological discoveries of ancient punch-mark coins in Rajasthan are offering new insights into a little-understood period of Indian history, the so-called ‘Dark Age’, spanning from the decline of Indus Valley Civilization (1900BC) to rise of Buddha (600BC).
The findings were recently presented at National Numismatics Conference in Meerut by Zafar Ullah Khan, a retired numismatist from Rajasthan’s department of archaeology and museology. The state’s archaeology department has accumulated over 2.21 lakh ancient coins under Rajasthan Treasure Trove Rules, 1961, including 7,180 punch-marked examples.
In his research paper, Khan highlighted significance of these coins, which were unearthed at sites like Ahar (Udai- pur), Kalibanga (Hanumangarh), Viratnagar (Jaipur), and Jankipura (Tonk). “The coins reflect Rajasthan’s integration into a broader cultural and economic landscape, as they share similarities with coins found across India, from Peshawar to Kanyakumari,” Khan said.
Crafted from metals such as silver and copper, the coins typically bear symbols like the sun, “shadchakra”, and mountains or “meru”, and adhere to a standardised weight of 3.3g. Caches of these coins were discovered in Tonk (3,300 in 1935) and Sikar (2,400 in 1998).
His research was further enriched by references to accounts of ancient Chinese trav- ellers. “Fa-Hien (399–414 CE), Sunyan (518 CE), and HiuenTsang (629 CE) all documented ruins in these areas, hinting at their historical significance. These records, coupled with archaeological evidence, enrich the narrative of a lost era and Rajasthan’s role in ancient trade,” he said.
Archaeology department’s retired director AK Jagdhari stressed the importance of continued research in the region “to illuminate this lost period of history”. “With many sites from the same era now in Pakistan, the chances of their excavation remain slim, making Rajasthan the crucial link to understanding this ancient age,” he said.
Commemorative coins
A backgrounder
July 13, 2024: The Times of India
What are commemorative coins?
As the name suggests, commemorative or ceremonial coins are issued to commemorate a certain event, celebrate a certain person, or further a certain message. They have a distinctive design, which references the occasion for which they were issued, and are often of a different (generally, larger) denomination, than regular coins.
Commemorative coins are often issued in very small quantities, and kept by the RBI as uncirculated collectors’ items. Sometimes, however, they can also be meant for mass circulation. This depends on the Centre’s intention behind issuing a certain coin.
Why are commemorative coins issued?
Since ancient times, coins have been used as tools to disseminate the rulers’ message, and further their image, often, quite literally. Philologist Thomas R Martin argued that the mobility of coins and their durable nature makes them one of the most desirable tools of publicity. (“Sulla Imperator Iterum: the Samnites and Roman Republican coin propaganda”, 1989).
Commemorative coins serve this very purpose. They generate publicity about a certain theme or issue which the government wants to stress on. For instance, in 1974, the Indira Gandhi-government introduced a coin with the theme and legend ‘Family Planning’, reflecting her government’s concerted population control push.
They are also used as tools of remembrance. For instance, the very first commemorative coins in India were issued in 1964, after the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Similarly, in 1969, the government launched a coin series celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s birth centenary. Commemorative coins have been issued in honour of many Indian luminaries, including Rabindranath Tagore, B R Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee, Jayprakash Narayan, and Indira Gandhi. In 2017, the government issued commemorative coins in honour of the deceased former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and legendary actor M G Ramachandran, and the late Carnatic music maestro M S Subbalakshmi.
Some coins institutions (like the State Bank of India or Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board), or occasions (like the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence) rather than individuals.
Who issues commemorative coins?
The sole authority to print or mint any Indian currency lies with the Reserve Bank of India, which works under the Union Finance Ministry. Thus, it is the Union Finance Ministry which ultimately decides whether to issue a commemorative coin or not.
However, state governments, government-run cultural institutions, or even private organisations can request the government to issue commemorative coins. For instance, in Subbalakshmi’s case, the request was made by the Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha. For the Karunanidhi commemorative coins, the request came from the Tamil Nadu government last year.
Who was Karunanidhi? What are some features of the coin issued in his honour?
Muthuvel Karunanidhi (June 3, 1924-August 7, 2018) was a writer and politician, who served as the Tamil Nadu chief minister for a period of almost two decades, over five terms, between 1969 and 2011. He is popularly called Kalaignar, or “the artist”. One of the tallest leaders of the Dravidian movement, Karunanidhi headed the DMK, which is currently in power in Tamil Nadu under his son Stalin, for decades.
The Rs 100 denomination coin issued in his honour will weigh 35 grams, have a diameter of 44 millimeters, with 200 serrations on its edge. It will be composed of an alloy comprising 50 per cent silver, 40 per cent copper, 5 per cent nickel, and 5 per cent zinc. On its reverse side a portrait of Karunanidhi will be inscribed, with his signature below the image. “The Birth Centenary of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi” will be inscribed in English on the coin’s right periphery, with “1924-2024” written on the bottom.
