Coins have played a major role in the reconstruction of the history and culture of our country. They unfold those aspects on which contemporary evidences like inscriptions, literature, art and archaeological remains are silent.
During the ancient period, Central India - comprising the modern states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh-came under the rule of the Mahajanapadas, the Nandas, the Mauryas, the Sungas, the Satavahanas, the Sakas, the Ksatrapas, the Nagas, the Kusanas, the Guptas and their feudatories, the Hunas, the Vardhanas, the Chalukyas, the Kalachuris, the Rashtrakutas, the Gurjara Pratiharas, the Paramaras, the Chandellas, the Kachchhapaghatas, the Nalas and other local dynasties. Numismatics, being a very important source material, has been fruitfully utilised for the reconstruction of the ancient history and culture of Central India from the times of the Mauryas to c. 13th century AD.
The present work is a systematic account of the tradition of coinage in Central India. The book also presents a descriptive bibliographic data of the numismatic source material of the region. Having made an in-depth study of the early coinage of the Narmada Valley, the book tries to justify that the numismatic wealth of the region is almost unparalleled in the country. |
