In the ancient coins of India, lead was used for smaller denominations. These have been found of all weights and sizes near Amaravati, with a lion or the tree symbol. The lion is the most favourite symbol represented on Buddhist sculptures. It forms the crowning ornament of the celebrated laths or obelisks of Northern India, the most remarkable of which are the Allahabad column, those of Bettiah, Bakra, etc. It occurs prominently amongst the ornaments of ancient and modern dehgop, and is a favourite symbol on the ancient coins of Bactria and S. India.
The elephant appeared conjointly with the lion on the Buddhist coins of Bactria and S. India ; but in other S. Indian coins the elephant appears on the obverse, with some Buddhist symbol on the reverse.
The bull, both in Buddhist and Saiva mytho logy, is a favourite symbol with both sects on many of their coins. It was early adopted by the successors of the Greek coins of Bactria, and with the extension of the Saiva creed in India its symbolic adoption became almost general. The Indian coins with it are of lead, copper, and white metal.
The horse was a favourite symbol on Buddhist coins of S. India, of lead, and copper, and white metal.
The boar typo of coins is the best known of all the old coinage of the S. of India. It was origin ally the badge of the Chalukya families of Kalyan and Rajamundry, from whom it pawed to the later Chola dynasty, wa.s subsequently adopted by the Rayar dynasty of Bijanagar, and is still found on the seals of some of the petty local chiefs in the Caruatic.
About 150 coins with symbols have been dis covered, 27 of them have flowers (phul), dots, or stars ; 14 have varieties of the lotus (padnia) or trefoil ; 12 have varieties of the trident (trisula) or spear (bala.) ; 10 have flower (pliul) or knot (padina phul); 4 with the barchlia spear, or the gucla sceptre or mace ; 15 have the jhar or thuhar, tree or sprig ; 6 the suraj or sun ; 7 shamsiri dagger ; 4 the katar dagger ; 1 the ankus or goad ; 13 with numerals or letters; ancl 13 with the shell, panja, or hand, the Hindu deities, Ilanuman, elephant, the royal umbrella or ch'hata, or the swastika cross. — Yule, Cathay, i. p. ccxlvii. ; Fraser's Journey into Khorasan, p. 74 ; Elph. pp. 420, 430; Mr. Walter Elliot in Mad. Jour. Lit. and Sc., Jan. to Mar. 1858 ; Mr. Edward Thomas' Prinsep's Useful Tables.