Coins play an important role in creating the history of the
nation. The study of coins is known as numismatics. Coins help in the
reconstruction of economic life, trade, and commerce, religion, metallurgy,
etc. for the people. Odisha coins can be classified as punch-marked coins,
Puri-Kushasan coins, Gupta gold coins, Nala and Sarhapuriya coins, Srinand,
Kalachuri. And Nag, a fan of Ganga and a potential Gajapati Shivalaya.
The punch-marked coins
The oldest coins available in Odisha are punch-marked coins
that were in circulation between the 4th century BC. 4th century B.C. These
coins were largely available in the coastal eastern parts of Odisha. These
coins were made of silver and copper and were irregular in shape and size.
These coins mark the holes of the sun, animals, birds, trees, humans, geometric
designs, etc. These coins can very well give a picture of the ancient economy
of Odisha.
The Puri-Kushana coins
Kushan coins and their imitations known as Puri-Kushan coins
have been found scattered in various parts of Odisha from Mayurbhanj to Ganjam.
These coins were in circulation in Odisha for the first three centuries of the
Christian era.
The Gupta coins
The capture of parts of Odisha by Samudragupta brought
Odisha into contact with the Gupta Empire. Secret Archer-type gold coins have
been found in Bhanpur, Khiching and Angul. These coins give an idea that
Odisha's a trade and commerce certainly existed with the Gupta Empire.
The Nala coins of the western region of Odisha
Nala coins from the western region of Odisha in South Kosala
in the 5th – 6th century AD shed light on Nala rule. The peculiarity of these
broom coins is that the obverse is found empty and in the back box is a hump ox
with a crescent bull with the king's name on it. Nala coins have reconstructed
the history of the streams. Coins of drains are still being discovered
regularly.
Other important coins of Odisha
Apart from the above coins, we have found many other coins
which have shaped the history of Odisha. The gold coins of Sarabhapuria have
helped a lot to reconstruct the history of that dynasty. The coins of
Prasanamatra, Mahendraditya and Karmaditya help a lot in reconstructing the
lineage and chronology of that dynasty. The findings of these coins from
Chhattisgarh, western parts of Odisha and Cuttack suggest that there was a
trade link between Chhattisgarh and Cuttack to the western parts of Odisha.
Srinand coins have been found from the Tories. He as the ruling head of the
Chhattisgarh region in the 6th century AD.
A Somavamsi gold coin (9th to 11th century AD). Julaha gets
the image of Gajalakshmi. The Kalachuris of western Odisha (10th – 14th century
AD) issued varieties of gold, silver and copper coins. These coins have been
found from the Sonepur, Khurda and Jonk river basins, which tell about
Ratnadeva, Prithvi Dev, and Ganga Dev. Gold coins of Chindika Nagas
(Bastar-Koraput region) also issued gold coins. His coins suggest that he ruled
Sonepur in the 12th century AD. Also, the discovery of the Padmatanka (a
centroid coin with eight petals of lotus) has opened up new dimensions of
Odisha's schism. These coins belong to Jadav of Devagiri. However, his rule in
Odisha is questionable.
With the coming of the Ganga rulers, Odisha coins took a new
turn. Small gold coins were known as fans by the Ganga kings. They are found
from Fan Angul, Cuttack and Sonepur. These coins bear South Indian influence.
Some gold coins have been found in Karnataka. Those coins are also known as
Gajapati PagodaThese coins were in circulation between the 13th-15th century
AD. It is really difficult to hand over these coins to the Suryavanshi Gajapati
rulers. However, the coins have helped a lot in reconstructing the history of Odisha.
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