Ancient coins, surviving into the present age, are living commentaries on the dead past. So coins of a given period and area constitute an important source of information about its history and culture. Bengal (now divided into West Bengal and Bangladesh) is no exception. But the discoveries and recognition of identity of several series of coins of ancient (up to c. AD 750) and proto-mediaeval (c. AD 750-1200) Bengal have been done only in the last two decades. A significant development in this field of study is related to the post-Gupta period (c. AD 550-750). The availability of the numismatic and epigraphic data relating to the coins and currency system of this age now provides enough scope for fresh study of the subject. In fact, such an investigation is a desideratum for understanding the economic history of period of transition (from the Gupta age to the Pala times) in the history of Bengal. The present work fulfils this need. Divided into six chapters and an appendix, the present work discusses the coins and currency systems of Vanga and Gauda-Vanga, coins of Samatata, and the technique of production and artistry of these pieces, and also furnishes a catalogue of the relevant coin-types. It also sums up the present state of research in the monetary systems of Bengal (up to c. AD 1200).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR B.N. Mukherjee
B.N. Mukherjee, formerly the Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta, and also an ex-National Fellow in History, is an internationally acclaimed authority on early Indian and Central Asian history and culture. He is connected with several academic bodies and has held responsible positions. He has published fifty books and contributed more than 750 articles in different learned journals in India and abroad. In 1983 he made a major breakthrough in palaeographical research by successfully deciphering the so-called Shell Script of ancient India. In 1989 he discovered a new variety of the Kharoshti script (Eastern Kharoshti) and also an early script consisting of Kharoshti and Brahmi letters, probably called in the Lalitavistara as Vimisrita-lipi (Mixed script). In 1992 he was honoured with the award of Padmashri by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding expertise in numismatics. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquary (London), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (London), an Honorary Life Member of the Hellenic Numismatic Society (Athens), an Honorary Fellow of Asiatic Society (Calcutta) and an Honorary Fellow of the International Centre for the Study of Bengal Art (Dhaka), Prof. Mukherjee has been honoured in India and abroad. He has traveled widely, delivering lectures and presiding over numerous seminars and conferences. He was the General President of the sixty first session of the Indian History Congress (2000-2001) and the eighth session of the All India Art History Congress (2003).
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