Coin Gallery - Coins From My Collection

Coins of Postmauryan Deccan

Map of Postmauryan Deccan ( 1st Century BC - 3rd Century AD )

With collapse of Mauryan power soon after Asoka in second century BC the local administrative officers , who were called Maharathis , Mahatalavara and Mahasenapati built up their own kingdoms and began to issue their own coins . Some of the uninscribed coins might belong to them . But they soon issued coins inscribed with their names . The Maharathis may be looked upon as the earliest known rulers of the deccan . They were succeed by Kura , Ananda ,Hasti , Mahatalavara , Sada , Sebaka families in deccan . The Vidarbha was ruled by Mitra and Bhadra Rulers which were suceeded by Satavahanas . After Satavahanas Ishvaku ruled the Andhra region .For the first time we find that lead was used for coins . Later it become prime metal of deccan for a long time and from there it went to Gujrat and Malwa and then to Punjab where it was first used by Strato II, the Indo-Bactrian Ruler and S'aka Kshatrapa Rajuvula who issed some coins in this metal .

 Kuras of Kolhapur :  In Maharashtra region around Kolhapur rose  one of  Maharathi family whose progenitor was Maharathi Kura . His coins bear the legend Maharathisa Kurasa . He was succeeded by Vilivayakura , who at first retained the title of Maharathi and issued coins with inscription Maharathisa Vilivayakurasa and then adopted title Rajno ( Raja or King) and metronymic title . This is the earliest metronymic inscription on indian coins . Sivalakura , who was successor of Vilivayakura issued coins in lead and introduced copper or potin also . These coins uniformly bear bear a bow and arrow along with  inscription on obverse and arched hill either or alone with tree in railing . An interesting feature of Kura coins is that they are mostly re-struck for example the coins of Vasisthiputra Vilivayakura are re-struck with dies of the coins of Madhariputra Sivalakura . A number of Kura coins have been found amongst the coins of Bramhapuri hoard , Cut into half , one third and a quarter . ( I have shown one coin from my collection ) Perhaps they were cut to serve the purpose of fractional coins .

Maharathi Rulers of Belgaum : There is another dynasty retaining title Maharathi existed in the area of Belgaum . The Known coins are of lead with an elephant on one side and a tree on the other . Above the inscription is the legends Maharathisa Siva Kshapanasa . Some other dynasty or dynasties , retaining the title Maharathi existed in Andhra region , but the inscriptions on their coins are so fragmentary that nothing can be made out of their issuers . If Siva Kshapanasa was a personal or dynastic name cannot be said. In between inscription and elephant are three symbols , variously placed on different coins .

Ananda Rulers of Banwasi : The Ananda family existed in the Karwar region . Chutukulananda, Mulananda and Shivananda are the only members of the family who are known from their lead coins . There lead coins have a big nine arched hill and over this hill there is inscription . The reverse has a tree in railing with few small symbols . they are the earliest Deccan rulers who had adopted the title Raja( Rajno) on their coins . Their coins are known from Karwar area and excavations at Chandravalli , and some other places in Banvasi region . Most likely these rulers had came after the Sadakana rulers .

Amravati Sculpture : 2003

Mitra and Bhadra Rulers of Vidarbha : Before Satavahanas the Vidarbha region was ruled by group of rulers having suffix Bhadra and Mitra . The early coins of are of punch marked type and rest are produced by die-struck technique . This dynasty was brought in light by some eminent scholars like Mr S. Bhandare , Mr Gupta , Mr Shastri , Mr Kulkarni , Mr Amiteshvar Jha . The rulers of this dynasty are Damabhadra , Satyabhadra-I , Dharmabhadra , Sarvabhadra , Satyabhadra-II , Kanhamitra , Suryamitra . The coins of Suryamitra were overstruck by the Satavahana Ruler Satakarni-I . The overstrucking consists of jjain symbol with crecent at one orb and legends Rano Siri Satakanisa  . The Gajalakshmi type uninscribed coins were issued by Satyabhadra-II . These coins are available in different denominations ranging from 1.00 to 6.00 Grams . These have Lakshmi standing on a lotus with elephants standing on lotus on either sides annointing her with pious water from their raised trunk .

Satavahana Dynasty : The Satavahana dominated the political scene of the deccan after decline of the Mauryas . They came as most powerful rulers of deccan and defeated the other kingdoms such as Mitra and Bhadra  , Sebaka Rulers as it can be seen from the coins of these rulers over struck by the Satavahanas . The coins of Satavahanas are mostly found in Andhra , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh , Gujrat and some part of Tamilnadu . These coins are richest in deccan numismatics both in variety and quantity . They issued coins Silver , Copper , Potin , Lead . Also some of the coins follow the pattern issued  by the predecessors of certain region ( eg . Junnar region ) . Their are many varieties still waiting for their proper attribution and there is virgin territory for research . Generally the Satavahana coins have bramhi legends  giving names of kings in prakrit  and in  most of cases they have Ujjain symbol with crecent at one orb on reverse which testifies their dynasty . In Maharashtra and Vidarbha , a large number of copper or potin coins are found . showing an elephant with the trunk upraised or hanging down on obverse and Ujjain symbol with crecent at one orb on reverse . There are many rulers of the dynasty Six of them viz. Siri Satkarni , Siri Pulumavi , Sivasiri Pulumavi , Skanda Satkarni , Siri Yajna Satakarni , Vijaya Satakarni of the puranic list and four other rulers viz . Saka Satakarni , Rudra Satakarni , Kumbha Satakarni , Karna or Krishna Satakarni which are not mentioned in puranic list .

Ishvaku Dynasty : The Successors of Satavahanas such as Ishvakus imitated the Satavahana  pattern in their coinage . their coins hane been mostly found in Karnataka and Andhra area . After Satavahanas the Pallavas ruled in the southern and the Ishvakus in the northern part of the region with capital at Nagarjunakonda . They imitated the potin coins of Satavahanas , having elephant on one side and the ujjain symbol on other . These coins are somewhat crude and cannot be attributed to any particular ruler . Some of them are having the names of Rulers such as Chantamula , Shantamula and Virapurushadatta .

 Note : There are other issues like Western Kshatrapas which are not discussed here due lack of space.

 Gadhaiya Coins from Madhya Pradesh

Om / Omkar  type Gadhaiya Coins : There is one coin reported from Madhya pradesh bears legends " Shri Om " or " Omkara " . Some scholars had attributed Paramara Rulers as issuer of coin . this coin is from post gupta period . These coins are of copper or billon commonly known as " Gadhiya " Coins . The coin is based on Sassanian pattern and the obverse side of coin bears Head or Bust of King ( Granulated ) and reverse side bears the legends " Shri Om" or " Omkara " . It is believed that these coins were issued in the name of Omkara Mandhata , whose famous temple stands on the banks of Narmada at Mandhata , not far from Indore .

Coins of Gurjara - Pratihara Rulers

Gurjara - Pratihara Coins : Nagabhatta I founded the dynasty of Pratihara in the beginning of eighth century A.D. There is controversy with regard to origin and place of origin of the Pratiharas . Some scholars are in view that Pratiharas are of Gurjara Clan ( In Chinese Kiu - Cha = Gurja) . These were foreigners and they came to India along with White hunas and made india their home . The Arab writers Abu Zaid and Al-Masudi call them " Juzr " or Gurjara  . Rashtrakuta inscriptions and Poet Pampa of Kannada language describe Pratiharas as Gurjaras . The  Agnikula Theory based on " Prithvi raj Raso " of Chandbardai these were descendants of one out of four heroes who came out from Yajna kunda . The Gwalior inscription traces their origin from Lakshamana ; the younger brother of Rama . It is said that Lakshamana had driven away the army of Meghanada and hence he was called Pratihari and his descendants were called as Pratiharas ( Another story states Lakshamana useally guard the door during night time when Rama was sleeping hence he was called Pratihari  ) , Some other scholars believe that the Yajna mentioned in the Agnikula theory was made for admitting the foreign tribes in the Hindu religion This indicates Pratiharas might have been foreigners 

The Earlier coins are Hepthalo-Sassanid coins which were the prototypes for the debased silver coins bearing the stylised bust of Sassanid  King and reverse with stylised fire altar . These type of Indo-Sassanian type coins are found in large quantities in Rajasthan , Gujarat and Malwa with extension toward Uttar Pradesh and Bihar . These coins are called as drammas . The earlier prototypes are thin and gradually they grew thicker and shrank in size Some coins bear the one or two letter inscription inscriptions like " Shri Ha ",  " Shri Vigra " . The coins in Uttar Pradeshbear the inscription  Shri Vigra " and attributed to Vigrahapala ( 850 AD - 853 AD ).

Mihirabhoja (836 AD - 892 AD) ascended the throne in 816 AD . A glorious chapter of history of the Pratihara begins with the accession of Mihirabhoja . He reorganized and consolidated the empire inherited from his ancestors and ushered in an era of prosperity of the Pratiharas . he credited many conquests including annexure of  Bundelkhanda & parts of Rajputana , Punjab, Western and Central India . He issued coins with  obverse of coin there is figure of Nrvaraha /Adivaraha , The boar incarnation of Vishnu wearing long "Vanamala"  to right with left leg raised ; below a small lion , to right a sun / wheel (charka) symbol , Moon symbol and dumbbell like symbol above  , A trident and conch shell on left side of Adivaraha . The reverse of the coin is simply rude copy of Hepthalo-Sassanid coins with little modifications. It has two lined inscription ”  Shrimad Adi / Varaha “ with traces of fire alter accompanied with two ladies (attendants ) to right and left .  The depiction of “ Adivaraha “ figurine matches very well with the representation given in cave no 5 of Udayagiri of Madhya Pradesh . The Gwalior inscription (  875AD -876 AD) of the rock cut temple “ Shrimad Adivaraha “ was title used by Bhoja deva or Mihira Bhoja (Bhoja-I or Adivaraha ) . The inscription states that “ The temple was built by Gopadri , governor appointed by king Shrimad Adivaraha of Mahodaya or Kannauj ”  Alexander Cunningham has given denomination Dramma  or Adivaraha Dramma for these types of coins on the basis of inscriptions of Pratihara rulers . The pattern on coins grew crude with time . The later rulers issued similar coins with crude fabric . These have inscription " Shrimad Adi / Varaha  " attributed to successors  of King Bhoja- I i.e.Mahendrapala , Mahipala and Bhoja-II  (931 AD - 943 AD)or  " Shri vina yaka pala  deva " which are attributed to Vinayakapala Deva ( 931 AD - 943 AD). These coins remain in circulation for a long time .

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