The history of Indian coinage stretches back at least 2600 years. Several dynasties have come and gone, as have rulers like Alexander the Great, the British, the Portuguese and the Dutch, leaving an intricate trail of coinage behind.

It is impossible to talk of coinage over such a long period without also talking about history, and hence this article runs parallel to the article History of India.

Prehistory

The first coins in India were probably minted just before 5th century BC, and certainly before the invasion of Alexander the Great in 4th century BC. The coins of this period were punch marked coins. Several of these coins had a single symbol, for example, Saurashtra had a humped bull, and Dakshin Panchala had a Swastik. Others, like Magadha, had several symbols.

Mauryan Period

Kuninda issued Silver coins which were bilingual, bearing legends in Prakrit(written in Brahmi script) on one side and Kharoshti on other.

Shunga Period

The Classical Age

Pallavas

Chalukya Empire

Chola Empire

Vijaynagar Empire

Islamic Rule

Mughal Dynasty

Maratha Empire

Colonial India

British

British Indian coins

Portuguese

French

The Dutch

The Danes

Independent India

Modern Indian coins

External links

• Reserve Bank of India Museum
• Indian Pricely States No coin links, but a full list of princely states
• Varun Parekh's collection Images of all coins of the Repulic of India.
• Portal on Indian coinage