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| Home >> Mumbai Projects by Government >> Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya |   Email this Page |
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One thing that makes the world go round Tinaz Nooshian After dropping in at the brand new coin gallery housed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, you are going to find yourself digging into your coin purse to check out that characterless piece of nickel that we call "chillar", and wonder what happened to the practice of creating artistic currency. Located on the first floor of the museum, the coin gallery that was inaugurated as part of the Museum's 85th birth anniversary celebrations, is a quiet cove littered with archaic currency, the only human element is the occasional visitor who breezes through over 2,200 years of history, in two minutes! And that's not such a bad thing, because those who have time to spare and interest to keep them going, have the whole gallery to themselves to imagine "what it must have been like". The journey starts from tiny bowls holding frail feathers, cowries, even toor dal and rice, to depict how barter was the medium of exchange. Those who were into agriculture, exchanged surplus grain for baskets made by weavers, for instance. Gradually, a need was felt to have a medium of exchange that was equal for all users, had divisibility, durability and portability. The first coins, punch-marked coins, appeared in first century BC. Foreign invasions led to script like Brahmi and Kharoshti appearing in inscriptions, with kings putting their images on the reverse. What you can expect to find: Magadha coins with amateur symbols, Saka coins well documented with portrait of ruler and date of issue, Gold coins of Delhi, Mughal coins (including Jehangir's zodiac sign coins), Indo-European coins, Indo-British coins, and currency of Independent India. The roundel that tells the story of JetvanaSigns and symbols that appeared on early coins Enough coins to cover a garden One wall carries an interesting story of Jetvana, as seen on a roundel. It's about a merchant called Anathapindaka, who donated a garden to Buddha, and had to pay enough punch-marked coins to cover the entire garden. The roundel shows him and his assistants covering the land with coins that are bought in by the truckload. Gajalakshmi, stone figure from Aurangabad Gajalakshmi A stone figure of Lakshmi from Pitalkhora, Aurangabad, dating back to second century BC, greets you as you enter the gallery. It depicts Lakshmi seated on a Lotus, two elephants showering her with water. Representation of Lakshmi began to appear on coins as far back as then. Ashwamedha coins Vibrant illustrations tell the significance of the Ashwamedha yagna, a curious practice that kings employed to expand their kingdoms. It was a yagna conducted to declare sovereignty. A white horse was released by the king, and followed by a large army. The horse would stray into neighboring lands, and those who did not oppose its entry automatically accepted the king's rule, or then had to fight the army. Gupta king Samudragupta (335 to 350 AD) is said to have performed the yagna, and released an Ashwamedha coin to commemorate the event. Where ancient coins are found A glass case tells you where these ancint coins are found, and how museums manage to get their hands on them, to form part of collections. Most coins are often found at excavantions caried out by archaeologists. Some appear on the soil after heavy rains. Some of them are found in "hoards". The famous Bayana hoard found in 1946, unearthed a whole load of Gupta coins. In ancient times, most wealthy individuals preferred to place coins in pots or cloth, and bury them deep into the soil. It was their "banking" system. URL : http://www.mid-day.com/life-at-work/2007/january/150566.htm |
| Also see : Administrative Wards of Mumbai, Government Acts(By Topic), Government Schemes |
