“Pagoda Tree”: Plants and Other Foliate Motifs on Indians Coins through History

Abstract

In this chapter, Shailendra Bhandare examines the way in which the rich symbolism of trees and foliate motives appear on Indian coinage pertaining to two historical periods: ancient India (from c. the fifth century bce to the fifth century ce) and the Islamic period. This, the author argues, demonstrates an interesting continuity in the tradition of representation of Indian flora.