2017-03-17 Fri

There are various techniques of striking coins like punch mark, cast technique, die struck, repousse technique, etc. Most of them seem to be familiar to us except the Repousse Technique. So let us dig into today’s topic!

The word repousse in French means "pushed up”. The term Repousse literally means ‘shaped’ or ornamented with patterns in relief made by hammering or pressing on the reverse side.

This technique was not used by many rulers or dynasty. Sharabhapuriya dynasty of Mahakosala (Chhattisgarh region), Chalukyas of Kalyan, Pandyas, Kadambas of Hangal, etc. are among the few dynasties who issued gold coin by this particular technique.

The given Gold coin in the picture was issued by King Prasannamitra (Sharabhapuriya dynasty of Mahakosala). It depicts Garuda and conch shell with the legend 'Sri Prasannamitra' in a box headed Brahmi letters underneath a pitcher (Kumbha) placed below the legend. It weighs around 1.28 grams.

This technique is also known as ‘Utpiditanka mudra’ meaning well-pressed coin. However a recent thesis suggests that this is a single die punch technique, but this suggestion is still a matter of debate.

So far we haven’t come across any silver repousse coin in India!