• ISBN13: 9788121238458
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: N/A
• Publisher: Gyan Publishing House
• Publisher Imprint: Gyan Publishing House
• Publication Date: January 1, 2020
• Pages: 70
• Original Price: INR 210.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 432 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): N/A

The author’s book on the numismatic history of Ceylon commences with references found about coins in Buddhist literature – like the Mahavamsa, the Dhammapada, the Jatakas, etc. The book proceeds to offer further notices on the weights and measures employed in the country – measures of weights, length, distance capacity etc. Part three of this work gives a history of Ceylon under the kings whose coins are extant. The next part gives a description of the coins. The concluding part of the book gives the Ceylon date of the Buddha’s death. This work is a reprint of the 1877 edition, and has one plate showing 24 coins in obverse and reverse

Thomas William Rhys Davids FBA was an English scholar of the Pāli language and founder of the Pāli Text Society. He took an active part in founding the British Academy and London School for Oriental Studies. Davids returned to Britain, and on passing his civil service exams was posted to Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) in 1863. When he was Magistrate of Galle and a case was brought before him involving questions of ecclesiastical law, he first learned of the Pāli language when a document in that language was brought in as evidence. Davids was posted as Assistant Government Agent of Nuwarakalaviya, where Anuradhapura was the administrative centre. The governor was Sir Hercules Robinson, who had founded the Archaeological Commission in 1868. His civil service career and his residence in Sri Lanka came to an abrupt end. Personal differences with his superior, C. W. Twynham, caused a formal investigation, resulting in a tribunal and Rhys Davids' dismissal for misconduct. A number of minor offenses had been discovered, as well as grievances concerning fines improperly exacted both from Rhys Davids' subjects and his employees.