The gold coinage of India from the year 1000 to today is the focus of a remarkable collection formed by Dr. Lawrence B. Brilliant and donated in October to the American Numismatic Society. The collection includes 153 gold coins and two exceptional silver and bronze pieces, representing all the major dynasties and issuers of medieval and early modern India.

The donation was arranged through the good offices of William B. Warden, Jr., Chair of the ANS Committee on Islamic Coins.

Most of the coins are new to our collection. Illustrated is a dinara of Vigraharaja IV, of the Hindu Chauhan dynasty, who ruled Sambhor and Ajmir from 1153 to 1163, and a quarter tanka of the Muslim general ‘Ali Mardan, who ruled Bengal, 1210-12, as governor for the Ghurids who conquered the province for Islam.

The non-gold coins are a silver 2 reales piece struck in London under Elizabeth I, in 1600, for the use of the East India company in India and elsewhere in Asia, and a bronze pattern for gold mohurs proposed to be issued for the Bombay Presidency of the British East India Co. in 1828.

It is hoped that the collection, once fully accessioned and catalogued, can be the focus of a future exhibit. Dr. Brilliant's generosity and interest in the Society's South Asian collection is very gratefully appreciated.