Erotic Tokens or Myth? Unmasking India’s Supposed Sensual Coins

India has a rich artistic tradition that embraces sensuality and the sacred together. From the temples of Khajuraho to the poetry of Kālidāsa, erotic expression has been part of the spiritual and cultural fabric. Over the years, rumors have surfaced about “erotic coins”—tokens featuring sensual imagery, supposedly used in tantric rituals, royal courts, or tribal rites.

However, as of today, there is no authenticated evidence that erotic coins were ever minted or circulated formally in India. No major numismatic catalog, museum, or archaeological site has recorded such specimens. Many of the so-called erotic “coins” are in fact temple tokens (like the Rama-tankas), or modern fantasies crafted for tourism or black-market collectors.

That said, India did produce symbolic coinage that carried religious or mythological imagery, and some tantric traditions are known to have used metallic charms or objects in ritual practices. It’s possible that these objects were later mistaken as coinage. But until verified, erotic coins remain a fascinating myth—rich in possibility, but lacking hard metal truth.