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the ocean.

Perhaps what he meant, or his informants meant, was daryāi-sūrma, i.e., the river Soorma.

As ‘Īsā Khān and his brother were sold as slaves, it may be presumed, in spite of the tradition mentioned by Dr. Wise, that their father remained a Hindu, for it seems that a Muhammadan cannot be sold into slavery by a Muḥammadan.

NUMISMATIC SUPPLEMENT.

[With Plates I and II.]

This supplement has been started primarily in the hope that coin collectors in India may find it convenient to chronicle in its pages notices of unpublished or rare coins which they may obtain from time to time.

It is also meant to include notes on other subjects of antiquarian and philological interest which by themselves might not afford sufficient material for a paper in the main body of the Journal.

It is a matter of common experience that casual finds by private persons of highly interesting coins are not made public with the freedom that is desirable. Almost all private cabinets contain specimens which their owners have not had any inclination or inducement to publish in any recognised journal.

Public cabinets are also not entirely free from reproach in this matter. Supplements to printed catalogues are brought out at inconveniently long intervals and new acquisitions of interest may thus remain unknown for years except to casual visitors.

The search for Indian coins since the days of Prinsep and Thomas has continued to be keen. The enthusiasm of General Cunningham and Mr. C. J. Rodgers in this direction has made itself widely felt, and the result is that every year brings to light numbers of coins previously unknown to numismatists. This is particularly noticeable in the case of the period covered by the later Muhammadan Sultāns of Dehli whose coins were struck not only at the capital but at many of the more prominent towns in their territories. The list of these towns which is a matter of historical and possibly geographical interest is being yearly added to in consequence of private research.

Similarly for progress in the study of ancient Indian history the publication of finds of new coins is all-important.

It is in the help that such notices afford to those engaged on the larger work of tabulating the numismatic records of specific periods

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and dynasties that this supplement should be found useful, if coin collectors and those interested in philological and antiquarian matters will but commit their observations to writing, to use the words of Sir William Jones, and send them to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta.

MEDIEVAL COINS.

1. Samudra Gupta.-A new variety of the Battle-axe type. Pl. I. 1. Obverse.-King, standing, leaning on battle-axe and facing left; attendant in left field supporting a standard tipped with a crescent. Between attendant and king the word

Between king and battle-axe the words.

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(Note.-—The final “ra” and “ta” of “Samudra" and "Gupta” are absent owing to want of space on the coin).

Legend.-To right of battle-axe

kṛtānta.

To left of attend anÈTTEÊTEN tyājitārāja jitajata Reverse.-Goddess on throne facing front with feet on a single lotus flower in full bloom.

In right hand a fillet, in left hand a lotus flower.

Monogram...

Legend.

FAFUTA kṛitānta-paraśu i.e. the battle-axe

of Kṛtānta. Weight: 118 grs.

The novel features in this coin, which was obtained in Lucknow, are (1) the fuller legend on the obverse, (2) the position of the king's name, (3) the lotus flower on the reverse in the goddess's left hand and at her feet. H. N. WRIGHT, C.S.

2. In our proceedings for 1881, at page 39, a gold coin belonging to the late Mr. R. Nicholson is described. The inscription was read “Sri Dhairyyarājā” by Dr. Hoernle. The coin is now in my possession, and it seems to me certain that the inscription should be read faace or Sri Vigharaha. The style of the letters would connect it with the same period as the very common silver coins, of the Indo-Sassanian type, which bear the same name, though the devices (obverse, bull Nandi, and lingam; reverse, cow suckling calf) are purely Indian. Pl. I. 2.

R.

BURN, C.S.

J. I. 9

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