Until very recently, the daily usage of coins by important parts of the population constituted an important indicator for the economic and social character of the society. Small denomination coins were produced and circulated primarily for the payment of wages, and of small purchases in market places and shops, where artisans and peasants offer their products. Frequent usage of small denomination coins thus allows us to characterise market societies as deeply monetised.

This volume demonstrates that from the mid-sixteenth century Indian society was deeply monetized and in this...