Abstract:
The history of numismatic research in Sri Lanka can be described under four
developmental phases. 1. Phase of antiquarian interest; 2. Early classificatory phase; 3.
Histographical and classificatory phase and 4. Scientific and classificatory phase. The
interfaces of those phases are not implicit, but some of their characteristics could be
explicitly elaborated.
British colonial scholars of the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century
were the pioneers who initiated the study of ancient coins in Sri Lanka. Their interest of
collecting and recording ancient coins was not more than the curiosity and enthusiasm
fed by so-called orientalistic ideology. Their activities mark the phase 1 of the
development of the numismatic studies in Sri Lanka and it was a remarkable beginning.
The work that can be ascribed to the early classificatory phase appeared in the 1920s.
The objectives of the work conducted during this phase were somewhat different from
the previously held antiquarianism. Systematic classification based on historical phases
and visible physical features on the coins was carried out. The insights developed
through the basic classifications in phase 2 were incorporated to historical interpretations
in phase 3. The significance of studying coins in historical analysis was emphasized and
the importance of them was evaluated as supplementary to the historical texts. The work
of this historical and classificatory phase appeared during 1950s.
More rigorous scientific approach towards studying ancient coins in Sri Lanka emerged
in the 1980s. The previous nomenclature of classificatory scheme of coins has been
challenged and alternative approaches have been suggested. Orientation towards
scientific analysis of materials of coins and the socio-political analysis of their cultural
context was encountered. This paper seeks to analyse the conceptual and
methodological development of numismatic studies in Sri Lanka with reference to its
wider social context.
