ABSTRACT
Roman coins found in India are unusual not only because of the hoard composition and the special choice of particular types in the early period, but also because of the incidence of two features which occur only in Indian hoards. General statements about the slashing of Roman coins found in India abound, and there is a notion that most of these coins were defaced. The incidence of slashed coins is comparatively low. Although the damaged coins from Pudukottai represent a high proportion of all the aurei in India, the number of separate finds of such coins is small. Imitations of Roman denarii and aurei are known from India, and they fall into two categories. First are actual counterfeits; that is, objects made in the appropriate metal and intended to be passed off as the original article. The second type are bullae or copies made of coins in some other material, such as clay or lead.
