The eldlings were manufactured by subdividing bars of metal or strips cut from a hammered silver, weight being adjusted where necessary by clipping the corners of each coin so formed. The obverse is usually covered with punch marks, often overlapping and clearly impressed at different times; the marks on the reverse, on the other hand, are usually fewer in number, in the great number of cases one only, are less distinct, and frequently smaller. These archaic coins were probably issued "by local authorities-money-changers or merchants" and were submitted by then for the approval of the local king or governor, whose stamp appears on the reverse. The punch marks on the other side, once blank, being those of the successive money-changers, through whose hand they passed in the course of circulation (Theobald, Notes on some Symbols; Rapson, Counter-marks). In Ceylon these marks are absent from the obverse of the majority of the later dumpy pieces. On none of the eldlings found locally have I been able to trace on the reverse any constantly recurring symbol which can be attributed to the Island, such as the railed swastika of the copper die-struck issues I am, therefore, inclined to the belief that all eldlings current in Ceylon were imported from India.

If the Arthasastra is to be credited, in Magadha in the time of Candragupta there were coined, at least in theory, in addition to the silver pana or eldlings, its half, quarter, and eighth, and in copper the, whole and half mashaka, corresponding with Manu's karshapana, and its quarter and eighth, the whole and half kakini (op cit., Bk. I,Chap.12 ). As Canakya, before his master's accession to the throne, is said to have amassed treasure by re-coining (Chap. II, sec. I) the introduction of a State mint, perhaps, may have been due to the policy of the founder of the Maurya Empire.

The standard of the silver eldling is the dharana of 32 gunjas; in the South it is said by Elliot to have been the kalanju seed, but in practice there was little or no difference, even if the two standards were not identical.

3. In Ceylon very few copper eldlings appear to be known other than the cores of silver coins, often with traces of the coating still adhering: The majority of the silver pieces are much worn, and really good specimens are rare. The coins fall into two main classes; (1) rectangular and (2) roughly circular or oval ; each of these again has a cross division into (a) thin and (b) thick. Though no clear line of separation exists, the thickness varying from that of thin cardboard to about 0.12 inch, the difference between the thin and wide coins, usually covered with punch marks, which are the earliest (Pl. 1 ; Cunningham, Coins of Ancient India, p. 43), and the thick and rather Dumpy pieces or ingots, very often blank with a few indentations (Pl. 2), is very marked. These latter are both, rectangular, and circular, and seems to have been made in these shapes; the oval thin eldlings appear to have been originally rectangular, and subsequently reduced to their present shape by the process of clipping referred to. The available specimen of the thin variety up to and including a thickness of 0.039 inch weigh from l4.9 (very worn) to 50.4 grains, the average of 36 being 30.5 grains; the seventeen thinnest, however, ranging from 14.9 to 45.l grains only give an average of 26.6. The highest weight for the available thick rectangular coins is 48.7 grains and the lowest 20.7, of which last the size is only 0.51 by. 0.43 inch; the average of twenty-one is 34.4 grains, as against Parker's average of 32.9 for thirteen (Ancient Ceylon, p.472). The thick circular pieces, of which eight average 33.8 grains, vary from 26 to 43.2 grains. The total average of twenty-nine thick coins of both varieties is 34.3 grains. Inferences drawn from these and similar figures to prove the duration of the use of the eldling currency are apt to be fallacious, for the lighter coins may be the fractional pieces of the Arthasrastra.

4. In process of time the punch marks, perhaps only in certain localities and trough the state monopoly of coinage, become fixed, though relative position slightly varied; rectangular eldlings of this kind are figured in Loventhal's work in Pl. I, Nos, 4, 5, and 6. The only ones reported from Ceylon bear on one side a. Three men or a man and two women standing in a row, b. A Peacock on a Chaitiya, and c. A balance or scales (cf. Theobald Fig. 9) , arranged thus :-

(i)	c b a	: Size : 0.62 x 0.43 x 0.078 in Weight ; 46.1 gr
(ii)	b c a	: Size : 0.61 x 0.47 x 0.118 in Weight ; 44.7gr (CA,I,iii, Pl.X ,nos 2,3 )

On the reverse of both is symbol (b), Pieces with these punch marks appear in I.M.C., I, p 138 Nos 37-40;No. 37 shown in Pl, XIX, 3, is the same as (i) and weights 52.3 grains.

5. The double-die thick plaque, having on the obverse a dagoba and on the reverse a bo-leaf, and weighing from 77 to 83 grains, with a size of 0.51 by 0.33 inch (Lowsley, Pl.VIII, 1) is probably a votive offering as is also the plaque shown in the Taprobanian of June, 1888, p 53. Both seems to be modern. With them may be compared crystal seal described by Mr. H. C. P. Bell in " Two Buddhist Seals " in the Ceylon Antiquary Vol. III Pt 1, PI, VII.

Silver - The only coins known are in the cabinet of Mr. Bell, described by the present writer in the Ceylon Antiquary; Vol. I, pt. 3, p. 178. One is a rectangular piece, 0.47 x 0.21 x 0.11 inch in size and 25.9 grains in weight. "The design", only half of which is on the flan, " seems to be a solar emblem, consisting of a central ball or boss from which springs a cross-wise, four lines ending in similar balls; in each space so formed in a Taurine (CA, Pl X no 3). The reverse is blank, but possibly has one indentation"- on the rest " the design consists of a bull, or such animal, in the lower half of the area, and a (?) fish, from whose back spring long rays upwards and , backward in upper half : both objects face to the right and have before them three symbols , which appear to be (a) a crescent at the top, (b) the sun, and at the bottom (c) a Taurine. "The die is all clearly circular"¹. Of the four known, two have the reverse blank, one has a few indentations. and the remaining piece one , if not two, punch marks,

1.	Rectangular	Size : 0.39 x 0.37 x 0.07 in.	Weight : 24.4 gr	Pl. 3
2.	Do.	Size : 0.41 x 0.33 x 0.07 in.	Weight : 24.7 gr,
3.	Do.	Size : 0.43 x 0.31 x 0.07 in.	Weight : 25.4 gr.
4.	(?) Circular	Size : 0.47 x .07 in.	Weight : 20.6 gr	Pl. 4. (C.A.Pl.X, Nos.6-10)

A small silver coin in the same collection is clearly of the same series, but is double-die. The obverse is the same as the preceeding; the design on the reverse is, perhaps, similar to the solar emblem on the first described piece but it is much worm, The coin is very thin, and may once have been circular ; it is 0.33 inch in diameter 4.9 grains in weight. In all the above coins the design is deeply struck. The standard must be that of the eldlings, the coin being halves, with the exception of the small piece just described, which may be the eighth.

7. Copper. -- These are oblong pieces, with rounded corners, concave on one side and rough on the other The design is now quite invisible. Pl. 5

1.	Tirukketisvaram		Size : 0.62 x 0.51 x 0.15 in.	Weight : 74.9 gr
2.	Do.		Size : 0.53 x 0.39 x 0.13 in.	Weight : 26.6 gr.
3.	Anuradapura,	Buddhist Rail	Size : 0.61 X 0.45 x 0..09 in.	Weight : 24.2 gr.
4.	Do.		Size : 0.62 x 0.49 x 0.06 in.	Weight : 21.6 gr,
5.	Do.	Selacaitya	Size : 0.55 x 0.50 x 0.06 in.	Weight : 16.5 gr.

A similar coin, but roughly circular and lenticular, was found at the north end of Vessagiriya, Anuradapura its diameter is 0.53 inch, and weight 29.8 grains. Alleged similar pieces unearthed at Kantarodai in the Jaffna peninsular are described by Mr. P. E. Pieris in his paper on " Nagadipa",in J.R.A.S., C.8., Vol, XXVIII, No. 72 of 1919. Pl. XII, Nos. 18, 19,21,22,26, Most seem to be the cores of eldlings, but one (No, 18) is distinctly concave: its size is 0.62 by 0.43 inch, and its weight is 28.6 grains, At Tirukketisvaram was also found a flat rectangular piece with rounded corners. One side is apparently blank; on the other is what seems to be a fish with long projecting fins, with which design should be compared that of the silver coins described above. It weighs in its broken condition 29.2 grains, and measures 0.49 x 0.45 x 0.11 inch. From the same place come two circular coins, which may be noticed here. One is thick, flat on one side, the design on which is undecipherable, and convex and worn smooth on the other ; the second is, perhaps, blank on both sides. The diameter and weight are 0.57 and 0.33 inch, and 3l.2 and 6.2 grains, respectively.

The single-die coins found at Anuradhapura have been described by Mr. Still in J.R.A.S., C.B., Vol XIX No. 58, 1907, pp. 200, 201. The deductions as to their age therein set forth cannot be maintained ; as, though they were discovered at the same site as the fourth and fifth century Roman coins, there is no evidence that they were actually found together,

8. The symbols appearing on the following coins are-

(1)	An isosceles triangle, base uppermost, with a short horizontal line crossing the apex and a short vertical line pendent there from.
(2)	Variant of the last, but the triangle is on its side ; in some instances a small vertical line projects from its side, either above or below
(3)	Nandipada symbol ; a trident head. with the side prongs curved and longer than the central one, over a circle, from which it is sometimes separated by a horizontal line,
(4)	Horizontal line, from each end of which rises a curved line, the two being back to back and. Crosses in the middle by another horizontal line. There is usually a similar line above the *hole, In s few instances this is doubled, the middle line being absent.
(5)	A truncated cone, inverted and crossed at the top, centre, and bottom by three bands, cf: Nasik -Nos. 13, 14 (Archaeological Survey of Western India, Vol. IV).
(6)	Two isosceles triangles placed vertically apex to apex with a bar across the junction ; the lower triangle is the smaller. From the left side of the upper there projects a short horizontal line. In .a variant the symbol assumes the shape of an hour glass with a projecting line on either side of the centre, cf Kuda, No.26(op, cit.).

The "Cakram" consists of two lines forming an acute angle, the apex being uppermost; with are two crossed lines parallel to the sides of the angle which they join. All four lines end at the bottom of the symbol on the same level. This symbol but with the outer lines somewhat shorter than the inner is used by certain Tamils in the.Anuradhapura District as a brand-mark for cattle ; a variant with the outer lines continued beyond the apex in the form of a loop or of a pair of pincers occurs in the Northern Province and represents a makara. Mr. Still suggests that the Cakram is the same as the brand-mark ; he is almost certainly right. the symbol being a conventional fish, the well-known Pandyans badge.

Of the following, the first is single-die ; -

(1)	Obv :	Cakram, apex between taurine on r. and (?) same symbol on l, ; above tortoise r. in rectangular frame
	Rev :	Blank.
	Size :	0.41 x 0.31 in. Weight : 12.9 gr. Pieris, Nagadipa, Pl. XII,20
(2)	Obv :	In rectangular frame at bottom small elephant standing r., trunk pendent; with enclosed, flagstaff and flag to r. Above, symbol consisting of two segments of a circle, the larger one above, the smaller below, the chords facing each other and connected by five vertical lines ; this symbol resembles the Temple of Vesta. To its r., a square basket like object with semicircular handle above. Symbol to upper f. is broken away; that to lower l. indistinct. The flan on the right projects beyond the die.
	Rev :	Cakram
	Size :	1.02 x 0.98 in. Weight : 205.2 gr. Broken. Pieris,XIII,12.
(3)	Obv :	In double line rectangular frame elephant as last between on l. indistinct symbol and on r,an enclosed flagstaff with flag. Above, " Temple of Vesta " between caitya on l. and basket on r.
	Rev :	In similar frame,Cakram
	Size :	1.08 x 0.98 in Weight : 131.7 gr. Slightly broken on left. Pieris, XIII ,Pl 11. Good condition
(4)	Obv :	Elephant as last between symbol No 1 to l. and doubtful symbol to r. Above in high relief," Temple of Vesta " between two caityas.
	Rev :	In double line frame,Cakram
	Size :	0.70 x 0.84 in, Weight : 99.3 gr. Broken and worn
(5)	Obv :	Elephant as last ; before him, "Temple of Vesta." Above to l. similar temple and to r a three-branched tree in enclosure standing upon a caitya,
	Rev :	Cakram.
(6)	Obv :	In rectangular frame at bottom small elephant standing l., trunk pendent, between on l. symbol No l, and on r. an enclosed tree; above, in centre (?) basket, in high relief, between enclosed tree to l, and caitya to r. Flan at bottom projects beyond die.
	Rev :	In double line frame,Cakram
	Size :	0.88 x 0.78 in. Weight : 138.2 gr. Pieris, XIII,9. Good. Pl .6.
(7)	Obv :	In double rectangular frame elephant standing l.
	Rev :	In line frame Cakram;
	Size :	0.47 x 0.45 in. Weight : 26.9 gr.
(8)	Obv :	Within line frame "Temple of Vesta," the centre of the upper segment of which is connected by a line with the frame. To lower left" perhaps, a small symbol ; to lower r symbol No 1.
	Rev:	In line frame Cakram.
	Size :	0.53 x 0.53 in. Weight : 29.7 gr. Pieris, XIII,7 Good.
	Size :	0.47 x 0.41 in. Weight : 20.1 gr. Slightly broken and worn.
(9)	Obv :	Tree in enclosure ; on l,small humped bull standing r and above, symbol 6. On r. doubtful symbol below, and caitya above.
	Rev :	Cakram.
	Size :	0.55 x 0.53 in. Weight : 27 gr. Slightly broken. Pieris 7, XIV, 10
	Size :	0.47 x 0.45 in. Weight : 16.4 gr. Slightly broken and worn.

All the above were found at Kantarodai. The obverse types of these Pandyan coins have a close resemblance to the Odumabara piece, figured by Cunningham in his " Coins of Ancient India, Pl. IV, Fig. 2.

1: For coins with circular die and rectangular flan, cf: C.C.A., Pl. X. 265 and 266 of Jayadaman, A.D, 124-150, and Pl V, GP5 of the Andhra dynasty.