It deals with the evolution of coinage system in ancient India.

1. z
A comprehensive study of coinage system in
Ancient India
CASTING TECHNIQUE.

2. z
What is Casting?
 Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material
is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity
of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify.
 It is 6000-year-old process.
 The oldest surviving casting is a copper from 3200 BC.
 In India antiquity of this technique goes back to Harappa
culture.

3. z
Process of casting.
 Place a pattern in sand to create a
mold.
 Incorporate the pattern and sand in
a gating system.
 Remove the pattern.
 Fill the mold cavity with molten
metal.
 Allow the metal to cool.
 Break away the sand mold and
remove the casting.

4. z
Origin Of CTC ( Casting Technique Of Coins)
 Introduction of metal was third phase of evolution in currency
system
 Punch marked coins manufactured by two methods Either Die-
striking or Casting.
 Earliest evidence found from 400BCE & does not go beyond
10th cent. BCE because no mould has been found so far.
 By 1st cent. BCE it was in developed form.
 Micro structure study of kausambi ( circa 100BCE) mould
suggests use of clay moulds, probably with a rapid cooling.

5. z
 There are several casting moulds have been found
from different locations like, ROHTAK , SUNET,
NALANDA,KASHI,TAXILA,ATRANJIKHERA,MATHURA
,SANCHI,KONDAPUR,KADKAL & ERAN.
 According to BIRBAL SHAHNI, “ There is cognisable
difference in the moulds have been found and depicts
considerably different casting techniques had been
implicated on different sites.”

6. z Characteristics of moulds found at ROHTAK
 Series of discs placed in vertical
column, like a pile of coins.
 At each level eight channels.
 Natural cooling.
 Each of the 8 coin disc was made
separately.
 It is quite complicated to comment
whether moulds were made of clay,
wax, wood, soapstone or any other
material.

7. z
 Concave or convex scar, but
continue in circulation.
 Cunningham found twin coins like
dumbbell shape and claims same
mould has been used.
 Curvature shows that 87mm
diameter & 7 mm hole in centre.
 Workmanship is very neat and
uniform

8. z
Characteristics of coin found at SUNET.
 80 SPECIMENs have been found so far of which 3 belong
to 1st cent. BCE.
 Technique was much simpler than that employed at
ROHTAK.
 comparable in structure with roman coin moulds of about
same period.
 Single coin discs (28mm dia.),impression on only side,
other face is either flat or convex.
 Clay is grey or red, grooves on outer face.

9. z
QUICK FACTS AND ESTIMATION.
 Three dark terracotta moulds have been found from NALANDA
belong to Gupta period. Belong to three different set on the
basis of discs and pouring methods.Jaygupta’s ( obvers+
reverse) & gold coins of Narsingh Gupta.
 Rectangular mould has bee found from Taxila, John Marshall
claims it forgery work.
 It seems that coin socket with one coin socket, and multiple
coin sockets were in use chronologically together.

10. z
I owe my thanks to:
 D.R. BHANDARKAR’s work “ Lectures On Ancient Indian
Numismatics” University Of Calcutta. 1921
 BIRBAL SHAHANI’s work “The Technique Of Casting Coins
In Ancient India” Numismatics Society Of India. 1945