South Indian numismatics

STUDIES IN SOUTH INDIAN COINS - Volume XI: K. V. Raman, S. Srinivasan - Editors; New Era Publications, Post Box No. 5092, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai-600028. Rs. 230.

SOME THREE decades ago it was reiterated in scholarly platforms that the Deccan and South India were barren from numismatic point of view and consequently, unfounded historical notions had got deep-rooted and distorted historical reconstruction of this vast region. It was also commonly believed that peninsular dynasties did not take much interest in coinage and related economic matters. But soon thereafter the picture underwent a welcome drastic change, thanks to pointed attention paid to numismatic finds thrown up by archaeological explorations and excavations and institutional and coin-collectors' concerted activities.

And in this respect the role of the Tamilnadu Numismatic Society and the South Indian Numismatic Society is simply great. More particularly the latter has provided a platform bringing together scholars, students and collectors interested in numismatology and sigillography and highlighting their discoveries and having them discussed. The society has been publishing the proceedings regularly, and the work under review is the eleventh such publication, setting at nought the aforesaid fond notion.

The latter society's activities cover trans-Narmada numismatics and this wide scope is reflected in this volume as well. Barring the presidential address of M. Mukunda Prabhu highlighting, inter alia, medieval Karnataka coins mentioning their denomination, most of the contributions fall into major well-recognised groups concerning major dynasties and coin-yielding areas. The Satavahanas were the earliest major autochthonous dynasty to strike money and their coins, known and new finds, naturally evoke keen interest, and the first three articles by I. K. Sarma, S. J. Mangalam and Jitendra Das either dwell upon some problems or new finds, the last one bringing to light for the first time the finds from the rich site of Kanganahalli in Karnataka.

Karur, on the banks of the river Amaravati in Tamil Nadu, has srpung up as a major source of coins and allied material during last over a decade, and as many as four articles by R. Krishnamurthy, the reviewer, P. Vijayaraghavan and P. Shanmugam and S. Raman are devoted to interesting material recovered from the locality recently. Vijayanagar rulers are known to have issued a large variety of coins in all metals, and new finds of this well-renowned series claim as many as six articles by R. Gopal, R. Jawahar Babu, A. V. Narasimha Murthy and Kesava Murthy, M. P. Mahadevaiah, Hariharaiah Oruganti and T. Satyamurthy.

Wodeyars of the former state of Mysore and their subordinates also issued a large volume of coins and six contributions dwell upon these coins. Rest of the contributions also treat the recent finds of other interesting coins including Kadamba, Chozha, Chera and miscellaneous issues and seals. At the end we find notices/ reviews of a few recent publications on the subject.

The book contains rich material for the study of Deccanese and South Indian numismatics and evidences the growing interest in these coins which is most welcome and bound to add to a vivid reconstruction of the political and economic history of this vast region. As such the publication is most welcome.

AJAY MITRA SHASTRI

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