My new web page was posted to introduce a series of coins that are commonly available and commonly ignored. Most collectors who even consider owning one are satisfied with owning exactly one and ignore the considerable variety and multitude of questions they raise. I have a lot to learn about these coins. If you know more about them than I do, I would enjoy hearing from you. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/gadpaisa.html
My new coin on this very subject, for people who may search the subject in the future. http://www.cointalk.com/t197372/
I don't think I know more Doug, but I have some examples that may fit in between your styles or at the end. Personally, I would like to see the proof they lasted as long as they did. I am unsure. If you look at Celtic issues, it seems the devolvement of style can happen much quicker than the timeframe they list these for, so I would like to see hoard proof they lasted into the 13th century as some claim. India to this day is the last major refuge of Zoroastrians, (the religion of Sassanid Persia). Freddy Mercury was Zoroastrian. Just a bit of trivia. I like your page Doug. I will have to study it more. Chris
The difference I find interesting is the lack of desire to use the money for any purpose other than as money. They did not promote the rulers, build city pride, date the issue for security, avoid counterfeiting or anything that is obvious to me. I believe a conscious desire not to change the design as well as the weight shows a system that considered the coins money and nothing more. This is consistent with slow progression of types.
Yes sir I understand. I was simply comparing these in my head to Celtic issues who did the same thing. They did not understand who the person was supposed to be, or the language on the coin, just that it was 'money". They therefor copied and recopied. Its just my understanding that devolvement in style of these Celtic issues occurred more rapidly than these were supposed to have done. In 100 years a celtic coin would go from a perfect reproduction of Philip to a very stylyzed head and a picasso horse. Maybe the two cultures were simply different, maybe this culture did a better job reproducing previous coins, I don't know. I was just comparing the two as to time frames and they seemed dissimilar.
