Satavahana Empire Coins

 

The Satavahana Dynasty reigned from the mid first century BC to the end of the third century AD. They initially established their hold around the Pratishthana (modern Paithan) in the Western Deccan, and expanded from there into the Eastern Deccan, modern day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. The term "Satavahana" originated from Prakrit which means "driven by seven" which is an implication of the Sun God's chariot that is driven by seven horses as in the Hindu mythology. Satavahanas are referred to as Andhras in the "Puranas". 

Their capital cities varied at different times. Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amravati were the capital of the Satavahana Dynasty. Sirimukha was the founder. They were amongst the first native Indian rulers to issue their own coins with the portraits of their rulers. This was started by Gautamiputra Satkarni who derived the practice from the Western Satraps after defeating them. The coin legends were in Prakrit language. They supported both Buddhism and Brahminism. They successfully defended their territories against foreign invaders and had many on-going battles with the Sakas (Western Satraps)

                                   

                            Junnar Lion, Satavahana
    

                                Satavahana Empire 

                                                   

The important rulers were,

Satkarni I (70-60 BC). He was the third king who expanded his empire by military conquests and conquered Kalinga, Patliputra, Godavari valley and the present-day Madhya Pradesh.

Gautamiputra Satkarni (106-130 AD). He is considered the greatest king of the dynasty who defeated the Greeks, Pahlavas (Indo Parthians) and the Sakas. He also defeated Nahapana, an important king of the Western Satraps.

                                    

 Donor Couples, Karle caves, Maharashtra, Inscriptions are of Satavahana time.

                                         

                                 

Panduleni Caves, Nashik, Maharashtra, Satavahana time.

Coins of Satavahana

The coins were excavated from the Deccan, Vidarbha and the western and eastern ghats. Most coins were die-struck though cast-coins too existed. There were silver, copper, lead and potin coins in the Satavahana Empire. The portrait coins were mostly in silver and some in lead. Many bore the names of "Satkarni" and Pulumavi". Many symbols that appeared on these coins include chakra symbol, lotus,  nandipara, Swastik, six arched hill, Ujjaini, tritantra, conch shell, taurine, tree and animal symbols.

Pilamavi IV is considered as the last king who ruled till 225 AD. After his death the empire fragmented into smaller kingdoms.

                                                              

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Vasthipura Sri Pulumavi AR drachm, 78-114 AD, weight 1.78 gm

Obverse; King's bust right, with elaborate hairdo, Brahmi legend around:  Rano Vasithiputasa Sri Pudumavisa

Reverse: Ujjain symbol and six-arched hill, river below. Telugu legend, Arahanaku Vahitti Makanaku Siva Tiru (Pulumaviku)

                                                      

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Siva Sri Pulumavi AR drachm, 147-154 AD, weight 2.05 gm 

Obverse: King's bust right, with elaborate hairdo, Brahmi legend around: Rano Vasithiputasa Siva Siri Pudumavisa

Reverse: Ujjain symbol and six-arched hill, river below. Telugu legend, Arahanaku Vahitti Makanaku Siva Tiru (Pulumaviku)

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Gautamiputra Satakaran silver drachm, weight 2.29 gm

Obverse: Six-arched hill overstruck on Nahapana's portrait.

Reverse: Four orbed Ujjaini symbol overstruck on Nahapana's arrow/ lightning symbol.

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Queen Naganika, wife of Satkarni I, First century AD, weight 6.7 gm

Obverse: Brahmi legend in the central tablet, Nagamnikaya, bottom reads, Kansia. The object in the right of the central tablet looks like a railing with square boxes.

Reverse: Bold Ujjaini symbol inside a square beaded border with a swastika in each orb of the symbol. 

                            

Junnar Lion potin, 1st to 2nd century AD, weight 3.9 gm.

Obverse: Roaring lion standing left, traces of Brahmi legend above, three arched hill and river below

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol with a nandipara between each orb.

                                                          

Paithan elephant, Sri Satkarni I , 1st century BC, weight 2.86 gm 

Obverse: Elephant facing right.

Reverse: Tree in railing.

Sri Satakarni, 1st century BC, Potin, weight 2,27 gm

Obverse: Elephant with raised trunk standing, with Brahmi legend above.

Reverse: Four orbed Ujjaini symbol.

                                                                        

                                                               

Satkarni 1, 100 BC, Nashik region, weight 1,4 gm

Obverse: Six arched hill, Brahmi legend.

Reverse: Tree in railing.

                                                               

Sri Sadavahana, Vidarbha, 101 BC-1 BC, copper, weight 1.55 gm

Obverse: Bold taurine and Ujjaini symbol right, Brahmi legend.

Reverse: Tree in railing.                                                         

                                                     

                                                                                  

Chaitya at Karle, Maharashtra, made during Satavahana time.

                                           

Satavahanas contributed to adding four Toranas (gateways) to the Sanchi stupa, during Satkarni's time.  

✧ from auction V coins.

✩ Rajgor's auction

    map and pictures courtesy commons. Wikimedia.

Kuninda Kingdom Coins

                                          

The kingdom of Kuninda was a Himalayan kingdom that existed from around the 2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD, located in the modern State of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal Pradesh.

The Greek historian Ptolemy linked the origin of the Kuninda to the country where the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Sutlej originate.

The Kuninda kingdom disappeared around the 3rd century, and the region shifted to Shaivite beliefs. The coins of Kuninda were influenced by the numismatic designs of the Indo- Greek kingdom and followed their weight and size standards. Kuninda coins are often found together with the Indo-Greek coins in hoard, particularly those of Apollodotus. A very large number of Kuninda coins are in the name of king Amoghabhuti and these continued even after his death.

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Location of Kuninda Kingdom in Purple

                                                                                 

 

Silver drachm, Kuninda kingdom, 200 BC-100 AD, weight 2,2 gm, Obverse, Deer standing right, symbol behind deer's horn, crowned by two cobras above the horn, Godess Lakshmi standing holding a long-stemmed lotus, with Brahmi legend Rajnah Kunindasya Amoghabhutisya Maharasya, Reverse, six arched hill with Nandi pada above, swastika with split standard at left, a tree in railing at right, wavy lines representing a flowing river below the stupa and Kharosthi legend around.

                                                     

A variant of the earlier coin having a three arched hill between the deer's legs, weight 2.1 gm

✩ map courtesy Wikipedia

The Indo-Greek Empire Coins (181 BC-10 AD)

The invasion of Alexander took place in the year 326 BC. He left some of his military generals and soldiers to occupy and rule his Indian and Central Asian conquests. One of his generals, Seleucus Nicator, founded the Seleucid Empire. In 303 BC, Seleucus led an army to the Indus where he encountered Chandragupta. The confrontation ended in a peace treaty.

Around 185 BC the Maurya dynasty was overthrown and Pusymitra Sunga ascended the throne and established the Sunga Empire which extended as far west till Punjab.

Around 181 BC, the Greco-Bactrian King Demetrius, son of the Greco-Bactrian King Euthydemus 1 invaded India across the Hindu Kush. Apollodotus, most likely made advances to the South while Menander led the invasion to the East. They conquered present-day Afghanistan and parts of Punjab and established what is known as the Indo-Greek Empire. Back in Bactria, however, in 175 BC, Eucratides managed to topple the Euthydemid dynasty and started a civil war by invading the Indo-Greek territory. Their advance was, however, checked by Indo-Greek King Menander.

The Indo-Greek rule later included the present-day Afghanistan, north-west parts of Pakistan and the Indian provinces of Kashmir and Punjab. During the two centuries of their rule, they combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins. There were several dynasties and over 40 rulers and the main source of their information is numismatic evidences. The coins were made of gold, silver, copper and nickel and had details like the name, issuing authority, the year and a portrait of the monarch on the coins.

Coins circulated in the south of the Hindu Kush carried bilingual inscriptions using Greek and Prakrit, Kharoshthi or Brahmi scripts. 

Menander is considered the most successful Indo-Greek king. His coins are the most widespread of all. Following his death, most of the empire splintered and new kingdoms began to mint new coinage. The most prominent were the Yadheya and the Mitra and Dutta dynasty. 

In 80 BC, an Indo-Sycthian king named Maues, possibly an ally of some Indo-Greek kings captured Taxila and ruled Gandhara for a few years. After his death, the Indo-Greeks were able to regain control of Taxila and it was king Apollodotus II who was a descendant of Menander who regained Gandhara. 

The Indo-Greeks continued to maintain themselves in eastern Punjab until the kingdom of the last king, Strato II, was taken over by the Indo-Scythian ruler Rajuvula around 10 AD.

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Menander Silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, 2.35 gm

Obverse helmeted and draped bust of Menander.

 Reverse, Athena walking left, brandishing a spear and holding a shield. 

                                                   

Menander Silver Tetradrachm, 155–130 BC, 7.8 gm 

Obverse, Diademed bust viewed from behind, brandishing spear in right hand and in aegis on left shoulder.

 Reverse, kharoshti legend, Athena Alkidemos holding shield, M in left field, monogram in right field.

                                                  

Menander Silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, 1.7 gm, Pushkalavati mint

Obverse, Diademed draped bust.

Reverse, Kharosthi legend, Pallas Athena standing left, holding aegis in left arm and hurling thunderbolt with right, HA monogram.

                                                   

Menander AE Square Chalkos, 160-145 BC, 3.6 gm Pushkalavati mint

Obverse, elephant’s head right with bell around neck.

Reverse, Kharoshti legend around club. DHT monogram in left field, A in right field.

 

Apollodotus 1, AR Silver Drachm, 174-165 BC, (2.4 gm)

Obverse, elephant standing right. Reverse, Zeba bull standing right.             

                                                       

Apollodotus 1, AR silver Drachm, 174-165 BC, 2.36 gm

Obverse, elephant standing right. 

Reverse, Zeba bull standing right.

                                                        

                                                         

Apollodotus 1, Square Hemiobol, Taxila Mint, 174-165 BC.

Obverse, Apollo standing and holding arrow and resting bow on ground. 

Reverse, Kharosthi legend, tripod

                                                       

                                                             

Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2.27 gm

Obverse, Diademed bust.

Reverse, Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

                                                       

Apollododus II AR Silver Drachm 80–60 BC, 2.20 gm

Obverse, Diademed and draped bust. 

Reverse, Athen Alkidemos holding shield and thunderbolt, monogram to left.

                                               

                                                           

 Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2 gm

Obverse: diademed bust of Apollo right. 

Reverse: Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

  

                                                       

 Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2.2 gm Taxila mint

Obverse diademed bust of Apollo right. Reverse, Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

✩ courtesy Wikipedia 

The Earliest Coins of India

 

The earliest coins found in ancient India are generally referred to as punch-marked coins, minted and issued by the Janapadas between the 6^th and 4^th centuries BC. Janapadas were kingdoms that prospered during the Vedic period. They were social and cultural states that had their origins in 'jana', which means people, and 'pada', which means abode. Each Janapada was free to issue its own coins and had its own combination of punches on coins. Later, when these kingdoms were annexed by their powerful neighbours, these Janapadas transformed into Mahajanapadas. Ancient Buddhist texts like Anguttara Nikaya mention 'solasa mahajanapadas', i.e., Sixteen Mahajanapadas.

                     

                      Bent Bar

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            Mahajanapadas and Janapadas

Shatamana (silver bent bar) Gandhara, 600 BC, weight: 11.23 gm, length: 39 mm.

Amongst the earliest Indian coins is the Shatamana (silver bent bar) Gandhara, which dates back to 600 to 300 BC and is also called the Double Sigloi. The bent bar coins followed the Shatamana (100 rattis) standard with a weight of approximately 11 gm. The length of the coins ranges from 35 mm to 50 mm, while the width ranges from 8 mm to 20 mm. They bear at each end a deeply punched 'septra radiate' solar symbol with a dot within the central circle and six radiating arms.  

Taxila copper/billon bent bars, 450 BC. Weight: 9.6 gm, length: 28 mm.

Later, the Shatamanas started to get debased. The short bars were struck from low-quality silver that resembled copper.

Silver one eighth Shatamana from Taxila, Gandhara Janapada 600 to 400 BC.

The punch-marked coin above has the six-armed Gandharian symbol with a dot between two of the arms. The size of these coins ranges from 14 mm to 17 mm and the weight ranges from about 1.3 gm to 1.6 gm.

From Gandhara the idea of punch-marked coinage spread and soon these coins were minted in many regions of Northern and Central India

Silver Karshapanas from Magdha Janapada,500 BC

These coins weighed between 3.4 gm and 5.8 gm of silver and were issued from 600 to 400 BC. They featured from two punched-marked symbols initially to five punch-marked symbols in the later issues on the obverse.

Archaic punch marked Panchala Janapada, half Karshapana silver coin 400-350 BC, weight 0.3 to 1.8 gm.

                                                     

AR,1/4 Karshapana, Saurashtra Janapada, 450-400 

BC, weight 0.9 gm, Obverse: Srivatsa, uniface                                                   

AR half Karshapana, Avanti Janapada 300 BC, 

weight 1.6 gm

Obverse: Taurine symbols Reverse: blank

*Map courtesy Wikipedia.coinage of India