From Hindu Kush to Salt Range

Contents: 1. General introduction/Osmund Bopearachchi. 2. Introduction to Punch marked coins in the Barikot Hoard/ Susmita Basu Majumdar. 3. Indo-Greek coins in the Barikot Hoard/Osmund Bopearachchi. 4. Charsadda Hoard/Osmund Bopearachchi. 5. Mingora Hoard/Osmund Bopearachchi. 6. Amb Sharif Hoard/Osmund Bopearachchi. 7. Some observation on die cutting techniques based on Eucratides I s Coins/Osmund Bopearachchi. Bibliography. Although new inscriptions have surfaced over the last twenty years, providing invaluable information on the chronology of the kings of Central Asia and North-West India and the important events associated with their reigns, the chronological sequence of many Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian and Indo-Parthian kings is still uncertain. It is thanks to the coins that we know that forty-five Greek kings reigned in Bactria and India, although written sources mention only eight. Coins are crucial for understanding the role of these kings: their stylistic characteristics suggest broad chronological periods; the overstrikes of one king on the coins of another king indicate the succession of their reigns; and minting techniques, metrology, iconography and monograms associated with find-spots help to assess the geographical localization of different kingdoms. It is in this context that the composition of coin hoards provides new insights into the economic activities, modes of production and artistic tastes of the regions. Building on previous studies of coin hoards found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the purpose of this volume is to examine four previously unpublished hoards. The analysis of the Barikot hoards, consisting of imperial silver punch marked and Indo-Greek coins, is a major contribution of this volume.