https://tinyurl.com/yxvmsoyf
I suggest that Lydia coins found in hoards, include select narrative coins juxtaposing unicorn young bull and lion paw which are Indus Script hieroglyphs. This indicates that Sardis mint where such coins were minted had Meluhha artisans who signified the tradition of Indus Script Cipher on the electrum and silver coin narratives.
![]()
Koroy Konuk, Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt in: W.H. Metcalf (ed.) Oxford Handbook of Green and Roman coinages, Oxford, OUP http://www.achemenet.com/pdf/news/KONUK_Asia_Minor.pdf
During the phase of the Tin-Bronze Revolution of metallurgical innovations with alloying, brass, a copper alloy (copper PLUS zinc) became a dominant metallurgical invention in juxtaposition to fine gold and ornament gold. This narrative finds expression on pictorial motifs on Lydia coin, Persepolis sculptural friezes. आरः रम् ārḥ ram आरः रम् [आ-ऋ-घञ्] 1 Brass; ताम्रारकोष्ठां परिखादुरासदाम् Bhāg.1.41.2. -2 Oxide of iron.-कूटः, -टम् brass; उत्तप्तस्फुरदारकूटकपिलज्योतिर्ज्वलद्दीप्तिभिः U.5.14. किमारकूटाभरणेन श्रियः N.लोह्यम् lōhyam लोह्यम् Brass.(Apte)
This is an addendum to:
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. This is signified by hieroglyphs: lion and feline paw. panja 'paw''furnace'; arka 'sun''copper, gold'; arye 'lion'āra 'brass'
Croesus (/ˈkriːsəs/ KREE-səs; Ancient Greek: Κροῖσος, Kroisos; 595 BCE – c. 546 BCE) was the king of Lydia who, according to Herodotus, reigned for 14 years: from 560 BCE until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BCE (sometimes given as 547 BCE).
![Image result for lydia greece]()
Location of Sardis, the mint from which Lydia coins were produced.
![]()
![File:Lycia coin Circa 520-470 BCE.jpg]()
![]()
![KINGS of LYDIA. Alyattes. Circa 620-10-564-53 BC.jpg]()
Coin of Alyattes. Circa 620/10-564/53 BCE
![Image result for lion lydia sunburst]()
Lydia, Time of Alyattes EL Trite. 4.72 g, 610-561 BC. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right, sunburst with multiple rays on forehead / Incuse punch divided into two parts. Weidauer 86; Traité II-1, 44; BMC Lydia 7; SNG von Aulock 2869; SNG Cop 449–451; SNG Lockett 2977; Boston MFA 1764. arka 'sun' rebus: arka 'gold, copper' Weidauer 86 http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/kings/alyattes/i.html
![]()
![]()
I suggest that Lydia coins found in hoards, include select narrative coins juxtaposing unicorn young bull and lion paw which are Indus Script hieroglyphs. This indicates that Sardis mint where such coins were minted had Meluhha artisans who signified the tradition of Indus Script Cipher on the electrum and silver coin narratives.
Koroy Konuk, Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt in: W.H. Metcalf (ed.) Oxford Handbook of Green and Roman coinages, Oxford, OUP http://www.achemenet.com/pdf/news/KONUK_Asia_Minor.pdf
During the phase of the Tin-Bronze Revolution of metallurgical innovations with alloying, brass, a copper alloy (copper PLUS zinc) became a dominant metallurgical invention in juxtaposition to fine gold and ornament gold. This narrative finds expression on pictorial motifs on Lydia coin, Persepolis sculptural friezes. आरः रम् ārḥ ram आरः रम् [आ-ऋ-घञ्] 1 Brass; ताम्रारकोष्ठां परिखादुरासदाम् Bhāg.1.41.2. -2 Oxide of iron.-कूटः, -टम् brass; उत्तप्तस्फुरदारकूटकपिलज्योतिर्ज्वलद्दीप्तिभिः U.5.14. किमारकूटाभरणेन श्रियः N.लोह्यम् lōhyam लोह्यम् Brass.(Apte)
This is an addendum to:
https://tinyurl.com/y5hyw5o5 See: Robert A. Munsell, 2002, The birth of coinage https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8Q531TK
The 'unicorn' or young bull with ONE horn signifies: kunda PLUS śṛṅgi 'fine gold PLUS gold for ornaments'.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. This is signified by hieroglyphs: lion and feline paw. panja 'paw''furnace'; arka 'sun''copper, gold'; arye 'lion'āra 'brass'
![]()
The juxtaposition signifier on Lydian electrum (gold-silver compound) coins between a young bull's profile and a lion's profile signies a metallurgical challenge between 1.kundaṇa 'fine gold',+ goṭī 'silver', i.e., electrum gold and 2. āra 'brass' + arka 'gold', i.e.golden brass. panja 'feline paw' rebus: panja 'kiln, furnace; juxtaposes शृङ्गिः śṛṅgiḥ शृङ्गिः Gold for ornaments.
शृङ्गी śṛṅgī शृङ्गी 1 Gold used for ornaments. -Comp. -कनकम् gold used for ornaments.
शृङ्गकः कम् śṛṅgakḥ kam शृङ्गकः कम् 1 A horn. -2 A horn of the moon. -3 Any pointed thing.
शृङ्गिन् śṛṅgin शृङ्गिन् a. (-णी f.) [शृङ्गमस्त्यस्य इनि] 1 Horned. -2 Crested, peaked.
kunda 'young bull' rebus: yajñakuṇḍa 'fire altar, furnace'; kũdār 'turner' The joined animal parts constituting hypertext on Kyzikos electrum coins is signify a unified guild formation, a phaḍa फड ‘
शृङ्गी śṛṅgī शृङ्गी 1 Gold used for ornaments. -Comp. -कनकम् gold used for ornaments.
शृङ्गकः कम् śṛṅgakḥ kam शृङ्गकः कम् 1 A horn. -2 A horn of the moon. -3 Any pointed thing.
शृङ्गिन् śṛṅgin शृङ्गिन् a. (-णी f.) [शृङ्गमस्त्यस्य इनि] 1 Horned. -2 Crested, peaked.
1. One-horned bull kunda 'young bull' rebus: kundaṇa 'fine gold' kũdār 'turner (artisan)' kunda PLUS śṛṅgi 'fine gold PLUS gold for ornaments'.2. Lion arye 'lion' rebus: āra 'brass' (epithets of आदित्य अर्य, sun, lord)
Croesus (/ˈkriːsəs/ KREE-səs; Ancient Greek: Κροῖσος, Kroisos; 595 BCE – c. 546 BCE) was the king of Lydia who, according to Herodotus, reigned for 14 years: from 560 BCE until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BCE (sometimes given as 547 BCE).Hieroglyph: karṣí ʻ furrowing ʼ Kapiṣṭh. [Cf. kāˊrṣi -- ʻ ploughing ʼ VS., karṣūˊ -- f. ʻ furrow, trench ʼ ŚBr.: √kr̥ṣ]Pr. kṣe_ ʻ plough -- iron ʼ, Paš. kaṣí ʻ mattock, hoe ʼ; Shum. káṣi ʻ spade, pickaxe ʼ; S. kasī f. ʻ trench, watercourse ʼ; L. kass m. ʻ catch drain, ravine ʼ, kassī f. ʻ small distributing channel from a canal ʼ; G. kã̄s m. ʻ artificial canal for irrigation ʼ -- Dm. Phal. khaṣīˊ ʻ small hoe ʼ perh. X khánati.Addenda: karṣí -- (kaṣĭ̄ -- f. ʻ spade ʼ lex.). [Like Av. karšivant<-> ʻ cultivator ʼ < IE. *kworsi -- with alternative development of IE. o ~ kāˊrṣi -- , kārṣīvaṇa -- ʻ cultivator ʼ T. Burrow, BSOAS xxxviii 63, 70; cf. karṣūˊ -- ~ †*kārṣū -- Turner BSOAS xxxvi 425](CDIAL 2909).
Location of Sardis, the mint from which Lydia coins were produced.
Lycia_coin_Circa_520-470_BCE.jpg Lycia coin, with obverse bull protome and reverse incuse punch mark using a geometrical motif, circa 520-470 BCE.
Location of Lycia. Anatolia/Asia Minor in the Greco-Roman period. The classical regions, including Lycia, and their main settlements
Mithrapata (circa 390-370 BC) was dynast of Lycia in the early 4th century BCE, at a time when this part of Anatoliawas subject to the Persian, or Achaemenid, Empire.
niṣká m.n. ʻ gold ornament for neck or breast ʼ RV., ʻ specific weight of gold ʼ Yājñ.Pa. nikkha -- , nek˚ m.n. ʻ gold necklace, a weight of gold ʼ; Pk. ṇikkha -- m. ʻ gold ʼ, m.n. ʻ a coin ʼ; Si. nik ʻ a goldsmith's weight ʼ. (CDIAL 7470)
dramma ʻ a coin ʼ Pañcat. [← Gk. draxmh/ through MPers. draxm → NiDoc. drakhma, tr˚ F. W. Thomas JRAS 1924, 672 and Kho. droxum ʻ silver ʼ G. Morgenstierne BSOS viii 660]Pk. damma -- m. ʻ a coin ʼ; P. damm m. ʻ money, price ʼ; Ku. dām m. ʻ money, a weight (= 1 ser) ʼ; N. dām ʻ a small coin, price ʼ; A. B. dāmʻ price ʼ, Or. dāma; Mth. dām ʻ a small coin (= 1 1/4 couries) ʼ; Bhoj. dām ʻ price ʼ; H. dām ʻ copper coin (= 1/25 paisā), money, price ʼ (→ S. dāmu m. ʻ price ʼ); G. drām n. ʻ wealth ʼ, G. M. dām m. ʻ price ʼ; -- H. damṛā m. ʻ gold, silver, riches ʼ, damṛī f. ʻ a coin worth 1/4 or 1/8 paisā ʼ (→ Mth. damṛī ʻ id. ʼ, K. dumürü f. ʻ 1/16 anna ʼ).
Addenda: dramma -- : S.kcch. dhamṛī f. ʻ smallest copper coin ʼ; Garh. dām ʻ cost ʼ. (CDIAL 6622)
Lydian gold coin issued under the reign of Croesus (Fifth century BC) – Obverse – Source Sacra-Moneta.com
"Ancient gold coins. Known as the “lifeblood of Mediterranean trade in the 2nd millennium BC,” gold coins were instrumental in commerce going back to the ancient civilizations of Sumer and Egypt. At first, they were traded by weight. They then could be cut up into small chunks or drawn into wire. At that time, they were viewed as a standard of accounting or used to pay taxes to rulers or temples. They were not generally used among the common folk." https://nationalcoinbroker.com/investor-services/history-of-gold-coins/
Coin of Alyattes. Circa 620/10-564/53 BCE Weidauer Group XVII, 108 var. Triton XXI (2018) no. 497, auctioned for USD 2750. This particular coin does not bear an inscription, but it is from the same punch as contemporary coins which have the inscription WALWEL. (Classical Numismatics Group).
Lydia, Time of Alyattes EL Trite. 4.72 g, 610-561 BC. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right, sunburst with multiple rays on forehead / Incuse punch divided into two parts. Weidauer 86; Traité II-1, 44; BMC Lydia 7; SNG von Aulock 2869; SNG Cop 449–451; SNG Lockett 2977; Boston MFA 1764. arka 'sun' rebus: arka 'gold, copper' Weidauer 86 http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/kings/alyattes/i.htmlThe coin features a lion similar to that on the earlier Lydian electrum coins with the sunburst or "nose wart," as well as a bull. tila2 m. ʻ mole on skin ʼ Kālid. 2. tílaka -- 2 m. ʻ sectarial mark on the forehead ʼ Yājñ., ʻ freckle ʼ VarBr̥S. 3. *tillaka -- . 4. *ṭillaka -- . [Perh. same as tilá -- 1: if so, *tillaka -- poss. < tilyà -- . For ṭ -- cf. *ṭikka -- 1] 1. S. tiru m. ʻ mole, freckle ʼ; P. til m. ʻ mole ʼ; H. til m. ʻ black spot, mole ʼ; M. tīḷ m. ʻ mole, freckle ʼ. -- Deriv. H. tilkā ʻ freckled ʼ.2. Pa. tilaka -- m. ʻ stain, mole, freckle ʼ; Pk. tilaya -- m. ʻ caste -- mark ʼ; Ku. tilo ʻ mole ʼ; N. tili ʻ small mole ʼ; B. tilā ʻ freckled ʼ; Or. tiḷā ʻ bits of metal put on ornaments ʼ; Si. talā -- ṭik ʻ caste -- mark ʼ. -- Deriv.: Or. tiḷiā, ˚ḷuā ʻ freckled, having moles ʼ; H. tilaihā m. ʻ turtle -- dove ʼ.3. P. tillṛī f. ʻ partic. kind of ornament ʼ; N. tilahari ʻ gold ornament on a woman's breast ʼ.4. N. ṭilo ʻ piece of iron presented as a coin to the departed spirit ʼ; G. ṭīlɔ m., ˚lũ n. ʻ caste -- mark ʼ, M. ṭilā m. -- Paš.lauṛ. ṭílī, weg. ṭélī f. ʻ forehead ʼ (IIFL iii 3, 181)?WPah.kṭg. tilli f. ʻ nose -- ornament for women ʼ.(CDIAL 5828)
Alyattes (Greek Ἀλυάττης Aluáttēs, likely from a Lydian Walwates; reigned c. 610–560 BC), sometimes described as Alyattes I, was the fourth king of the Mermnad dynasty in Lydia, the son of Sadyattes and grandson of Ardys. He was succeeded by his son Croesus.[2] A battle between his forces and those of Cyaxares, king of Media, was interrupted by the solar eclipse of 28 May 584 BC. After this, a truce was agreed and Alyattes married his daughter Aryenis to Astyages, the son of Cyaxares. The alliance preserved Lydia for another generation, during which it enjoyed its most brilliant period.[3] Alyattes continued to wage a war against Miletus for many years but eventually he heeded the Delphic Oracle and rebuilt a temple, dedicated to Athena, which his soldiers had destroyed. He then made peace with Miletus.[4]
Alyattes was the first monarch who issued coins, made from electrum (and his successor Croesus was the first to issue gold coins). Alyattes is therefore sometimes mentioned as the originator of coinage, or of currency.[5]
The Greek form Ἀλυάττης is most likely derived from a name with initial digamma, ϝαλυάττης (walwattes), from a Lydian walwet- (Lydian alphabet: 𐤥𐤠𐤩𐤥𐤤𐤯).[6]
WALWET hemihekte and hekte Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by AncientJoe, Oct 27, 2015. AncientJoe Well-Known Member The lion head coinage is among the earliest which can be definitively attributed to the Lydian kingdom. Most of these coins are anepigraphic – without a legend – but a small number contain the inscription “WALWET” in ancient Lydian. This name is thought to refer to the Memnad king known by Greek sources as Alyattes, who ruled circa 620-564 BC. Through hoard evidence, it is clear that both the inscribed and uninscribed coins were minted at the same time. Interestingly, all of the inscribed trites and hektes are struck from obverse dies which have far more detail than could fit on the coins. They contain two facing lion heads surrounding the Lydian inscription and are generally struck off-center so that only one of the lion heads is visible with the inscription. While no larger denominations have been found, it is possible that the dies were originally intended for a larger “stater”, or that there was some significance to striking with one particular side of the die. I've recently added two coins of this type to my collection - the first a hemihekte, which is exceptional for the presence of both lions and every letter of the inscription:
Kings of Lydia. temp. Alyattes EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Sardes, circa 610-560 BC. Lion’s head left with open jaws, solar-disk above forehead, confronting open jaws of lion’s head right; WALWET (in Lydian retrograde script) between / Incuse square punch. Weidauer 111 var; cf. Weidauer 99; lot 225 above (same dies). 1.17g, 7mm. Extremely Rare. Clear and with an exceptionally legible inscription, with parts of both lions. The most complete example known. From an English collection, previously in that of Otto Liman von Sanders. Ex Roma 3, lot 280 The second is a hekte, featuring a particularly clear inscription and well-centered head of the left side of the die.
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Alyattes or Walwet (ca. 610-561 BC). EL sixth-stater or hecte (11mm, 2.36 gm). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes(?) mint. Confronting lion's heads, only the left visible; WALWET (in Lydian script) between / Two incuse square punches side-by-side. Weidauer Group XVII, 103. Well struck, with a particularly well centered lion's head and clear inscription. Extremely Fine. Among the finest known specimens of this rare early inscribed coinage. From the Providence Collection. These coins are among the first in history to carry an inscription as well as a formal type and are exceptionally rare, with only a small number known today across all denominations. AncientJoe, Oct 27, 2015 #1+ QuoteReply Curtisimo, Ancient Aussie, Theodosius and 21 others like this. Guest User Guest Log in or Sign up to hide this ad. TIF Always learning. Supporter Pretty amazing little coins there, AJ! Somewhat relevant, recently there was an interesting example of a hekte struck on two conjoined hemihektes although it was a Miletos electrum, not a WALWET. I had dreams of winning it early on but of course was soon out of the running . For those who missed it, here is that coin (from CNG 100): (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/walwet-hemihekte-and-hekte.270027/)
https://tinyurl.com/yd4drzhv
To my knowledge, no numismatics expert has provided arguments for the choice of symbols on ancient India punch-marked coins and their meanings. I suggest that symbols are Indus Script hypertexts signifying in Meluhha sprachbund (speech union) metalwork wealth of mints which issued the coins.
The earliest metal coins as currency replaced the barter system in vogue for trade transactions of early Bronze Age. The earliest coin as currency is linked with the discoveries of electrum coins in Lydia and Kyzikos.
![]()
![Golden Lydian Coin.]()
![]()
Kings of Lydia, uncertain King. Early 6th century BC. EL Third Stater, or Trite. Head of roaring lion right, sun with multiple rays on forehead / Double incuse punch.BMC 6, BMFA_1764
![Image result for one-horned young bull bharatkalyan97]()
Unicorn is a hypertext of Young Bull, cattle-pen PLUS pannier PLUS horn: कोंडण kōṇḍaṇa f A fold or pen. कोंडवाड kōṇḍavāḍa n f C (कोंडणें & वाडा) A pen or fold for cattle. कोंडी kōṇḍī f (कोंडणें) A confined place gen.; a lockup house, a pen, fold, pound; a receiving apartment or court for Bráhmans gathering for दक्षिणा; a prison at the play of आट्यापाट्या; a dammed up part of a stream &c. &c. खोंड khōṇḍa m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi)*gōrdhava ʻ lord of the cow, bull ʼ. [Cf. gōpá -- , gōpati -- , gōnātha -- m. ʻ bull ʼ. --gṓ -- , dhava -- 3 ?]G. godhɔ m. ʻ bull ʼ, ˚dhũ n. ʻ young bull ʼ, OG. godhalu m. ʻ entire bull ʼ, G. godhliyũ n. ʻ young bull ʼ; -- or < *gōvardha -- . Both very doubtful.(CDIAL 4315) Pannier (cowl):Te. kōḍiya, kōḍe young bull; adj. male (e.g. kōḍe dūḍa bull calf), young, youthful; kōḍekã̄ḍu a young man. Kol. (Haig) kōḍē bull. Nk. khoṛe male calf. Konḍa kōḍicow; kōṛe youngbullock. Pe. kōḍi cow. Manḍ. kūḍi id. Kui kōḍi id., ox. Kuwi (F.) kōdi cow; (S.) kajja kōḍi bull; (Su. P.) kōḍi cow. (DEDR 2199) खोंडरूं khōṇḍarūṃ n A contemptuous form of खोंडा in the sense of कांबळा-cowl. खोंडा khōṇḍā m A कांबळा of which one end is formed into a cowl or hood. 2 fig. A hollow amidst hills; a deep or a dark and retiring spot; a dell. 3 (also खोंडी & खोंडें) A variety of जोंधळा.खोंडी khōṇḍī f An outspread shovelform sack (as formed temporarily out of a कांबळा, to hold or fend off grain, chaff &c.) See under खुंडी. 2 A species or variety of जोंधळा.खुंडी khuṇḍī f A cloth doubled over and sewn at one end, forming a घोंगता, खोपा, or खोळ (an open or outspread shovel-form sack). Used in exposing grain in the market. 2 A species or variety of जोंधळा. जोंधळा jōndhaḷā m A cereal plant or its grain, Holcus sorghum. Eight varieties are reckoned, viz. उता- वळी, निळवा, शाळू, रातडी, पिवळा जोंधळा, खुंडी, काळबोंडी जोंधळा, दूध मोगरा. There are however many others as केळी, अरगडी, डुकरी, बेंदरी, मडगूप &c.(Marathi) *kōtthala ʻ bag ʼ. [Cf. *kōttha -- ]Pa. kotthalī -- f. ʻ sack (?) ʼ; Pk. kotthala -- m. ʻ bag, grainstore ʼ (kōha -- m. ʻ bag ʼ < *kōtha?); K. kŏthul, ˚lu m. ʻ large bag or parcel ʼ, kothü jü f. ʻ small do. ʼ; S. kothirī f. ʻ bag ʼ; Ku. kuthlo ʻ large bag, sack ʼ; B. kūthlī ʻ satchel, wallet ʼ; Or. kuthaḷi, ˚thuḷi, kothaḷi, ˚thiḷi ʻ wallet, pouch ʼ; H. kothlā m. ʻ bag, sack, stomach (see *kōttha -- ) ʼ, ˚lī f. ʻ purse ʼ; G. kothḷɔ m. ʻ large bag ʼ, ˚ḷī f. ʻ purse, scrotum ʼ; M. kothḷā m. ʻ large sack, chamber of stomach (= peṭā ċā k˚) ʼ, ˚ḷẽ n. ʻ sack ʼ, ˚ḷī f. ʻ small sack ʼ; -- X gōṇīˊ -- : S. g̠othirī f. ʻ bag ʼ, L. gutthlā m.(CDIAL 3511)Tip, horn: Ta. kōṭu (in cpds. kōṭṭu-) horn, tusk, branch of tree, cluster, bunch, coil of hair, line, diagram, bank of stream or pool; kuvaṭu branch of a tree; kōṭṭāṉ, kōṭṭuvāṉ rock horned-owl (cf. 1657 Ta. kuṭiñai). Ko. ko·ṛ (obl. ko·ṭ-) horns (one horn is kob), half of hair on each side of parting, side in game, log, section of bamboo used as fuel, line marked out. To. kwï·ṛ (obl. kwï·ṭ-) horn, branch, path across stream in thicket. Ka. kōḍu horn, tusk, branch of a tree; kōr̤ horn. Tu. kōḍů, kōḍu horn. Te. kōḍu rivulet, branch of a river. Pa. kōḍ (pl. kōḍul) horn. Ga. (Oll.) kōr (pl. kōrgul) id. Go. (Tr.) kōr (obl. kōt-, pl. kōhk) horn of cattle or wild animals, branch of a tree; (W. Ph. A. Ch.) kōr (pl.kōhk), (S.) kōr (pl. kōhku), (Ma.) kōr̥u (pl. kōẖku) horn; (M.) kohk branch (Voc. 980); (LuS.) kogoo a horn. Kui kōju (pl. kōska) horn, antler. (DEDR 2200) kṓṭi1 ʻ curved end of bow, edge, point of sword ʼ MBh. [√kuṭ 1 ]Pa. kōṭi -- f. ʻ summit ʼ; Pk. kōḍi -- f. ʻ tip of bow, tip, point ʼ; S. koṛi f. ʻ pegs in the ground in two rows on which the thread is passed back and forth in preparing the warp ʼ; H. kor f. ʻ tip, point ʼ, ˚rī f. ʻ division, branch, class ʼ; Si. keḷa ʻ end ʼ.*kōṭiprāpta -- .Addenda: kōṭi -- 1 : WPah.kṭg. kōṛ f. (obl. -- i ) ʻ the side nearest to the hill -- slope of a terraced field ʼ; Md. koḷu ʻ end ʼ, koḷu -- fas (+ *paśca -- ) ʻ stern ʼ.(CDIAL 3497)
Together, the खोंड khōṇḍa 'young bull' (Marathi) PLUS kōḍu 'horn' (Kannada) signify rebus workshop (of) goldsmith as shown by the following Meluhha words of Ancient Indian sprachbund (speech union).
1. Rebus: kod. = place where artisans work (Gujarati)
2. Rebus: Fine gold, gold braid:खोदणें (p. 122) khōdaṇēṃ v c & i ( H) To engrave. Thus a metals engraver is signified. Ta. kuntaṉam interspace for setting gems in a jewel; fine gold (< Te.). Ka. kundaṇa setting a precious stone in fine gold; fine gold; kundana fine gold. Tu. kundaṇapure gold. Te. kundanamu fine gold used in very thin foils in setting precious stones; setting precious stones with fine gold. (DEDR 1725) कोंदण kōndaṇa n (कोंदणें) Setting or infixing of gems. 2 Beaten or drawn gold used in the operation. 3 The socket of a gem. कोंदणपट्टी kōndaṇapaṭṭī f The strip of beaten or drawn gold used in setting gems. कोंदणें kōndaṇēṃ v c To stuff or cram in. कोंदणें kōndaṇēṃ v i To be stuffed, obstructed, blocked up: also to be filled more comprehensively or freely; as a house or room with smoke; the heavens with thunder or a loud sound, or darkness; a person with rapture or joy &c. Ex. नादें अंबर कोंदलें ॥. Also ब्रम्हानंदें कोंदले ॥. Also to fill or pervade; as तों चंद्र गेला मावळोनि ॥ काज्हरा गगनीं कोंदला ॥. कोदा kōdā m Low and dirty work, or work involving toil and fag; mean jobs or drudgery. v काढ, निपट, उपस, कर, & v i पड. Ex. बाळंतिणीचा- दुखणेकऱ्याचा-पोराचा-म्हाताऱ्याचा-संसाराचा-चाकरीचा- कोदा मी उपसतों. (Marathi) payĕn-kō̃da पयन्-कोँद (Kashmiri) which expression signifies a furnace, kiln. Thus kundār ‘turner’ is a lapidary, metal worker who works with a furnace. payĕn-kō̃da पयन्-कोँद । परिपाककन्दुः f. a kiln (a potter's, a lime-kiln, and brick-kiln, or the like); a furnace (for smelting). -thöji -था&above;जि&below; or -thöjü -था&above;जू&below; । परिपाक-(द्रावण-)मूषा f. a crucible, a melting-pot. -ʦañĕ -च्&dotbelow;ञ । परिपाकोपयोगिशान्ताङ्गारसमूहः f.pl. a special kind of charcoal (made from deodar and similar wood) used in smelting furnaces. -wôlu -वोलु&below; । धात्वादिद्रावण-इष्टिकादिपरिपाकशिल्पी m. a metal-smelter; a brick-baker. -wān -वान् । द्रावणचुल्ली m. a smelting furnace. (Kashmiri) कन्दु mf. (√स्कन्द् Un2. i , 15), a boiler , saucepan , or other cooking utensil of iron Sus3r. Ma1lav. Comm. on कात्यायन-श्रौत-सूत्र; an oven , or vessel serving for one W. (Monier-Williams)
To my knowledge, no numismatics expert has provided arguments for the choice of symbols on ancient India punch-marked coins and their meanings. I suggest that symbols are Indus Script hypertexts signifying in Meluhha sprachbund (speech union) metalwork wealth of mints which issued the coins.
The earliest metal coins as currency replaced the barter system in vogue for trade transactions of early Bronze Age. The earliest coin as currency is linked with the discoveries of electrum coins in Lydia and Kyzikos.
New light on hypertexts of Lydia and Kyzikos electrum coins![Image result for persepolis lion unicorn]()
![Image result for persepolis lion unicorn]()
Frieze on staircase wall, Persepolis.
![Image result for persepolis lion unicorn]()
Procession of lions, unicorns (auroch or urus) at Persepolis. ![Image result for kunda flower]()
Jasminum multiflorum is signified on the Persepolis frieze. kunda 'jasmine flower' rebus: kunda 'gold, treasure of Kubera'.
![]()
Culm of millet shown on the Persepolis frieze: karba 'culm of millet' rebus: karba 'iron' (Tulu).
Jasminum multiflorum is signified on the Persepolis frieze. kunda 'jasmine flower' rebus: kunda 'gold, treasure of Kubera'.
Gold stater Period: Archaic Date: ca. 560–546 B.C.E Lydia Medium: Gold Dimensions: Overall: 3/8 x 9/16 x 1/16 in. (1 x 1.4 x 0.2 cm) Credit Line: Gift of The American Society for the Excavation of Sardis, 1926 Accession Number: 26.59.2 https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/26.59.2/
Kings of Lydia, uncertain King. Early 6th century BC. EL Third Stater, or Trite. Head of roaring lion right, sun with multiple rays on forehead / Double incuse punch.BMC 6, BMFA_1764![]()
Lydia, Kingdom of. Late 7th-Early 6th Century BCE. EL Twelfth Stater. Struck at Sardes. Lion's head right with globular protuberance on nose / Square incuse punch. Weidauer 79-85. BMC17 http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/lydia/kings/uncertain/i.html
Lydia. Electrum coin. Attributed to Croesus (/ˈkriːsəs/ KREE-səs; Ancient Greek: Κροῖσος, Kroisos; 595 BCE – c. 546 BCE) king of Lydia who, according to Herodotus, reigned for 14 years from 560 BC until his defeat by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 546 BCE (sometimes given as 547 BCE). (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Electrum, is a naturally occurring pale yellow alloy of gold and silver. The composition of these first coins was similar to alluvial deposits found in the silt of the Pactolus river, which ran through the Lydian capital, Sardis. Later coins, including some in the British Museum, were made from gold purified by heating with common salt to remove the silver. ("A History of the World-Episode 25 - Gold coin of Croesus" BBC. British Museum.)
![]()
1/6 stater - electrum - Kyzikos, Mesia (550-500 a.C.) - lion with large mane above tunny fish - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston![]()
Electrum stater from the ancient city of Kyzikos, Mysia, circa 550-500 BCE. It has a chimera above a tunny fish which was the civic badge of Kyzikos. The reverse is a quadripartite incuse square. This near mint state, extremely rare coin sold for around $65,000...The feared Chimera was a monster of which a brief description in Homer’s Iliad is the earliest surviving literary reference. He depicts it as “a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire”. http://archaicwonder.tumblr.com/post/145726067200/extremely-rare-ancient-chimera-coin-this-is-an
Unicorn is a hypertext of Young Bull, cattle-pen PLUS pannier PLUS horn: कोंडण kōṇḍaṇa f A fold or pen. कोंडवाड kōṇḍavāḍa n f C (कोंडणें & वाडा) A pen or fold for cattle. कोंडी kōṇḍī f (कोंडणें) A confined place gen.; a lockup house, a pen, fold, pound; a receiving apartment or court for Bráhmans gathering for दक्षिणा; a prison at the play of आट्यापाट्या; a dammed up part of a stream &c. &c. खोंड khōṇḍa m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi)*gōrdhava ʻ lord of the cow, bull ʼ. [Cf. gōpá -- , gōpati -- , gōnātha -- m. ʻ bull ʼ. --
Together, the खोंड khōṇḍa 'young bull' (Marathi) PLUS kōḍu 'horn' (Kannada) signify rebus workshop (of) goldsmith as shown by the following Meluhha words of Ancient Indian sprachbund (speech union).
1. Rebus: kod. = place where artisans work (Gujarati)
2. Rebus: Fine gold, gold braid: