Tanvir Mahim, CoU

Various gold and silver coins used for trade in the Bengal region throughout different historical periods, along with the cowrie shells prevalent at the time, are being exhibited at Comilla University (CoU).

The coins, collected by the Bangladesh Numismatic Collectors Society (BNCS), are being displayed at the international archaeological conference organized by the Archeology Department of Comilla University and the Bangladesh History Association on Friday (May 16th).

The exhibition showcases some of the earliest currencies of the Bengal region. Among the displayed items are coins from the Mauryan and Gupta periods, as well as those circulated during the Bengal and Delhi Sultanates. Additionally, silver coins used for trade in the Chattogram region and silver coins from the independent Indian state of Jaintiapur are also on display.

A notable exhibit is the ‘Ek Tanka’ from the Bengal Sultanate period. It is believed that the current Bangladeshi currency, ‘Taka,’ originated from the Sanskrit word ‘Tanka,’ meaning silver coin. In the fourteenth century, Ibn Battuta noted that gold and silver coins in the Bengal Sultanate were referred to as ‘Taka’ rather than Dinar. Furthermore, the word ‘Taka’ was printed on Pakistani Rupees in this region after the partition of India.

Regarding this, the president of the Bangladesh Numismatic Collectors Society (BNCS), Md. Rabiul Islam, stated, ‘Collecting coins is a matter of personal joy. Each coin carries a history. Today, we are displaying the coins that were used in the early ages of the Bengal region. We are showcasing coins from the Mauryan era to the Bengal Sultanate, the Delhi Sultanate, and those minted in the mints of this region.’