i n d i a



r e f e r e n c e s



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The Ganges Valley and adjacent regions
during the Kushan and post-Kushan periods

Yaudheyas of Punjab

[Yaudheya]20K JPG
Civic Coinage (300 - 340 AD)
AE Tetradrachm (Early series, division 2)
Mitchiner ACW 4711 - 4715
25 mm.
10.62 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Karttikeya standind facing, holding sceptre; peacock on right. In Brahmi:'Yaudheya Ganasya Jaya' (Victory to the Yaudheya people).
Reverse: Goddess standing with hand on hip, wearing transparent garment; lotus and nandipana symbol in field.

[Yaudheya]15K JPG
Civic Coinage (300 - 340 AD)
AE Tetradrachm (Late series, division 1)
Mitchiner ACW 4719 - 4721
22 mm.
10.30 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Karttikeya standind facing, holding sceptre; peacock on right. In Brahmi:'Yaudheya Ganasya Jaya' (Victory to the Yaudheya people).
Reverse: Goddess standing with hand on hip, wearing transparent garment.

Nagas of Narwar

[Naga]4K JPG
Ganapati Naga (circa 340 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 4739 - 4750
8 mm.
0.67 gm.
Die position=n/a
reverse
Obverse: Humped bull standing left.
Reverse: In Brahmi:'Maharaja Sri Ganendra'.

[Naga]4K JPG
Ganapati Naga (circa 340 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 4739 - 4750
7 mm.
0.18 gm.
Die position=n/a
reverse
Obverse: Humped bull standing left.
Reverse: In Brahmi:'Maharaja Sri Ganendra'.

The Western Kshatrapas (circa 35 AD - 405 AD)
If, in fact, the coins are dated in the Saka Era [78 AD = Saka year 1].

Kshaharatas

Abhiraka
Bhumaka

Nahapana
Many of Nahapana's coins are overstruck by Gautamiputra Satakarni, who reigned for 24 years and claimed to have destroyed Nahapana in his 18th year. Nahapana has inscriptional dates 41-46; it's not clear whether these are regnal dates or dates in the Saka Era (or some other era). There are coins from Sind of the Indo-Parthian Satavastres overstruck by Nahapana and coins of Nahapana overstruck by Satavastres; they were probably contemporaries. Sases (Gondophares-Sases) also overstruck Nahapana's coinage in Sind.

[Nahapana]11K JPG
Nahapana (circa 50 - 75 AD (?))
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 2684
15 mm.
1.69 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; Greek legend.
Reverse: Arrow and thunderbolt; Brahmi legend to right, Karosthi to left.

[Nahapana]10K JPG
Nahapana (circa 50 - 75 AD (?))
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 2684
17 mm.
2.01 gm.
Die position=10h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; Greek legend.
Reverse: Arrow and thunderbolt; Brahmi legend to right, Karosthi to left.

Bhadramukhas

Chastana (circa 75 - 100 AD (?))
Damaghsada I
Jayadaman

Rudradaman
[Rudradaman]8K JPG
Rudradaman
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 325
16 mm.
2.25 gm.
Die position=7h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

[Rudradaman]11K JPG
Rudradaman
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 325; Mitchiner ACW 2686
16 x 14 mm.
1.75 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Damajadasri I
Damaghsada II

Rudrasimha I
First dated coins.

Jivadaman
Satyadaman
Rudrasena I
Prithvisena

Damasena
[Damasena]6K JPG
Damasena (222 - 236 AD)
Potin or Pb Unit
Dated: Saka 153 (231 AD)
Senior ISCH 340
12 x 14 mm.
1.34 gm.
Die position=2h
reverse
Obverse: Elephant right.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi date.

Samghadaman
Damajadasri II
Viradaman
Yasodaman I

Vijayasena
[Vijayasena]10K JPG
Vijayasena (238 - 250 AD) [as Mahasatrap: 239 and later]
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 164-169 (242-247 AD)
Senior ISCH 351; Mitchiner ACW 2706v.
16 mm.
2.16 gm.
Die position=5h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

[Vijayasena]10K JPG
Vijayasena (238 - 250 AD) [as Mahasatrap: 239 and later]
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 164-169 (242-247 AD)
Senior ISCH 351; Mitchiner ACW 2706v.
14 mm.
2.21 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Isvaradatta

Damajadasri III
[Damajadasri III]11K JPG
Damajadasri III (250 - 255 AD)
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 177 (255 AD)
Senior ISCH 353; Mitchiner ACW 2720v.
15 mm.
1.98 gm.
Die position=1h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Rudrasena II
[Rudrasena II]11K JPG
Rudrasena II (256 - 274 AD)
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 188 (266 AD)
Senior ISCH 354; Mitchiner ACW 2729
14 mm.
2.30 gm.
Die position=10h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

[Rudrasena II]8K JPG
Rudrasena II (256 - 274 AD)
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 189 (267 AD)
Senior ISCH 354; Mitchiner ACW 2734
15 mm.
2.25 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Visvasimha
[Visvasimha]10K JPG
Visvasimha (277 - 290 AD)
AR Drachm
Dated: Saka 200 (?) (278 AD (?))
Senior ISCH 355; Mitchiner ACW 2744v.
14 mm.
2.22 gm.
Die position=5h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; date (Brahmi) behind head. Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Visvasena
[Visvasena]10K JPG
Visvasena (292 - 304 AD)
Dated: off flan
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 357
15 mm.
2.19 gm.
Die position=7h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Bhartrdaman
Rudrasimha II
Yasodaman II

Rudrasena III
[Rudrasena III]10K JPG
Rudrasena III (348 - 378 AD)
Dated: Saka 274-279 (352-357 AD)
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 360
15 x 14 mm.
2.13 gm.
Die position=4h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

[Rudrasena III]9K JPG
Rudrasena III (348 - 378 AD)
Dated: off flan
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 360
15 x 14 mm.
2.12 gm.
Die position=7h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

[Rudrasena III]9K JPG
Rudrasena III (348 - 378 AD)
Dated: off flan
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 360
13 x 14 mm.
2.08 gm.
Die position=6h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi legend.

Simhasena
Rudrasena IV
Rudrasimha III
Indraka (?)

Indrada (?)
[Indrada]9K JPG
Indrada or late imitation
Dated: off flan
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH 365v. (?)
14 mm.
2.09 gm.
Die position=4h
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; no legend visible.
Reverse: Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; blundered Brahmi legend.

Brockage

[brockage]10K JPG
[unknown]
Dated: off flan
AR Drachm
Senior ISCH -
15 x 14 mm.
2.09 gm.
Die position=n/a
reverse
Obverse: Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
Reverse: Brockage of obverse.

The Gupta Empire and its successors

Gupta Empire

[Samudragupta]23K JPG
Samudragupta (circa 335 - 380 AD)
AV Stater
Mitchiner ACW 4780
20 mm.
7.50 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: King standing left, holding long sceptre in left hand, right hand lowered to an altar; Garuda standard to left. In Brahmi:'Samudra' in right field; and partial marginal legend.
Reverse: Goddess Lakshmi enthroned facing, holding cornucopia; symbol to left. In Brahmi:'Parakramah' to right.

[Kumaragupta]7K JPG
Kumaragupta I (414 - 455 AD)
AR Drachm (Western provinces Garuda type)
Mitchiner ACW 4845 - 4854
11 mm.
2.03 gm.
Die position=6h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of king, right.
Reverse: Formalized Garuda standing facing with spread wings. In Brahmi:'Parama-bhagavata rajahiraja Sri Kumaragupta Mahendraditya'.

[Skandagupta]7K JPG
Skandagupta (455 -480 AD)
AR Drachm (Western provinces Bull type)
Mitchiner ACW 4879 - 4882
12 mm.
1.82 gm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of king, right.
Reverse: Humped bull seated right. In Brahmi:'Parama-bhagavata Sri Skandagupta Kramaditya'.

Successor states in Saurashtra and the west

Kingdom of the Maitrakas of Valabhi
[Saurashtra]5K JPG
Anonymous (470 - 800 AD)
Billon Drachm (Later issues)
Mitchiner ACW 4897 - 4898
11 mm.
1.95 gm.
Die position=7h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of king, right.
Reverse: Trident with curved prongs and side-arm. Corrupt Brahmi legend.

Successor states in Malwa

Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand

Central and Eastern provinces

West Central provinces

Vardhanas (Pushyabhutis)
[Siladitya]9K JPG
Siladitya, Harshavardhana (606 - 647 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4933 - 4937
14 mm.
2.25 gm.
Die position=12h
reverse
Obverse: Bust of king, left.
Reverse: Formalized Garuda standing facing with spread wings. In Brahmi:'Vijitavanir-avanapati Sri Siladitya divam jayati'.

This is a coin of the famous king Harsha, whom the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Xuanzang, met in 642.

Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh

[Sindh]23K JPG
Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 215v.
22 mm.
3.73 gm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

[Sindh]16K JPG
Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 216v.
22 mm.
3.63 gm.
Die position=3h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

[Sindh]22K JPG
Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 217v.
22 mm.
3.69 gm.
Die position=8h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

[Sindh]20K JPG
Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 217v.
22 mm.
3.90 gm.
Die position=4h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

[Sindh]19K JPG
Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 218v.
22 mm.
4.12 gm.
Die position=7h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

The coins listed above are sometimes referred to as Indo-Sasanian or Hephthalite coins.

Imperial Pratiharas

[Pratiharas]19K JPG
Anonymous (circa 780 - 980 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 364v.
20 mm.
3.97 gm.
Die position=10h
reverse
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right. Brahmi Sri DaMa (?)
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.




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