ANCIENT COINS

SAURASHTRA JANAPADAS
Saurashtra is a part of modern Gujarat of India. This kingdom was earlier ruled by Yadava's. In Mahabharata this kigdom was mentioned in many chapters. The city Dwarka, where Lord krishn was king, is in north Saurashtra. Saurashtra Janapada was one among 16 Mahajanapadas who ruled Ancient India before Mauryan Rule.
Quarter Karshapana - 8 rattis or 0.9 to 1 gram
Mashaka - 2 rattis
Two Mashaka - 4 rattis
Coin Type - Single die struck, punch marked coins. Most of the coins appear to be overstruck.

Metal : Silver
Value : 1/4 Karshapana
Year : 450 - 300 BC
Weight : 0.9 Grams
Reference : Rajgor

MAURYA DYNASTY

       

     The Mauryan empire grew out of the Magadha janapada and kingdom. The empire was founded around 322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya, a man of humble origins who usurped the Magadhan throne of the Nandas. The Magadhan kingdom was already large and Chandragupta expnded it further. The Seleucid emperor, Seleucos I, ceded to him all the Greek lands south of the Hindu Kush mountains. Thus his empire stretched through modern Pakistan into Afghanistan. Chandragupta is said to have given up the throne in order to become an ascetic. His son, Bindusara, continued the expansion of the empire, as did his grandson, Ashoka. However, after witnessing the aftermath of a particularly bloody battle during the Mauryan conquest of Kalinga in modern-day Orissa, Ashoka was overwhelmed with remorse and decided to abandon war altogether. He converted to Buddhism and started to follow a policy of non-violence, spreading the pacifist philosophy of the Buddha throughout his empire and also to other countries through emissaries sent out for that purpose. The Mauryan empire survived for some 50 years after the death of Ashoka, but was eventually overthrown when a general in the army, Pushyamitra Sunga, usurped the throne.

Metal : Silver
Type : Punch  Marked Coin
Obverse : Different Symbols

Metal : Silver
Type : Punch  Marked Coin
Obverse : Different Symbols Animal, Sun etc

Ashoka

Ashoka commonly known as Ashoka the Great. He was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from 269 BCE to 232 BCE. His Empire had Taxila, Ujjain and Pataliputra as its capital. In about 260 BCE Ashoka waged a bitterly destructive war against the state of Kalinga (modern Odisha). He conquered Kalinga, which none of his ancestors (starting from Chandragupta Maurya) had done. His reign was headquartered in Magadha (present-day Bihar). He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the Kalinga War, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia, and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha.Ashoka is referred to as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka." His name "aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit. Ashoka played a critical role in helping make Buddhism a world religion.The emblem of the modern Republic of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka.

The Great Ashoka

Ruler : The Great Ashoka
Type : Punch marked coins
Year : 269 - 232 BCE
Obverse : Different Symbols
Reverse : Ashoka Mudra symbol

PUNCH MARKED COINS

Metal : Silver
Obverse : Different Symbols
Weight : 2.03 Grams

Metal : Silver
Obverse : Different Symbols
Weight : 2.78 Grams

Metal : Silver
Obverse : Different Symbols
Weight : 2.8 grams

Metal : Copper
Type : Punch Marked Coin
Obverse : Diffferent Symbols
Weight : 2.63 Grams

SATHAVAHANA DYNASTY

      

     The Satavahanas were the political successors of the Mauryas in the Deccan and their rule lasted for four and a half centuries from about 230 B.C.

• Their empire seems to have extended from the Konkan Coast in the West to the Godavari and Krishna Deltas in the East, while to the South it must have reached as far as Chandravalli.
• They were known by different names Satavahanas, Satakarnis, Andhras, Andhrabhritas.
• Coins minted in Lead, Silver and alloy of copper
• The origins of Satavahanas are considered to be Brahmins and most of the kings use their mothers name with their name.
• The coins issued by Satavahanas had Brahmi scripts.
• They promoted Buddhism. Nagarjunkonda and Amaravati became Buddhist centers during Satavahana Era.
• Some Important kings of Satavahana Dynasty are Simuka, Kanha, Satakarni I, Satakarni II, Hala, Gauthamiputra Satakarni, Pulumayi II 

Metal : Potin

Ruler : Unknown

Year : Unknown

Obverse : Elephant facing right and Brahmi legends

Reverse : Emblem of Ujjain

SATAKARNI I

     Satakarni I was the third of the Satavahana kings. He ruled around 180 BCE in Central India. It is thought that Satakarni was a son of Kunala. He only ruled for two years, but he achieved the conquest of the Western Malwa region from the Sungas. Satakarni is mentioned in the Hathigumpha inscription of Kalinga (India). Satakarni was the contemporary of Pusyamitra Sunga of Magadha and Kharavela of kalinga. From the Naneghat inscription it is evident that Satakarni conquer western Malwa, Anupa or the Narmada valley and Vidarbha. The inscription further states that Satakarni performed the Aswamedha sacrifices and one Rajasuya sacrifice in commemoration of these victories and proclaimed himself Samrat and assumed the titles of ‘Dakshinapathi’ and ‘Aprathihatahachakra’. He succeeded by his minor son Vedasri. Naganika acted as regent and carried on the administration. Vedasri died a minor and was succeeded by is brother Satisri.

Metal : Potin (Maharastra/Vidarba Type)

Ruler : Satakarni

Year : 180-124 BCE

Obverse : Brahmi Script and Elephant

Reverse : Emblem of Ujjain

Metal : Potin 

Ruler : Satakarni

Year : 180-124 BCE

Obverse : Brahmi Script and Elephant facing right

Reverse : Emblem of Ujjain

Weight : 1.9 grams

Metal : Potin
Ruler : Satakarni I
Obverse : Elephant to Right and brahmi legends above
Reverse : Ujjain symbol
Weight : 2.1 Grams

Metal : Copper
Obverse : Elephant to Right
Reverse : Ujjain Symbol
Weight : 5.58 Grams

KOSAMBI  VATSA DYNASTY

     

     Kausambi also known as Kaushambi and Kosambi (Pali), is a district in north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh with Manjhanpur as its administrative headquarters. Kosambi was one of the greatest cities in India from the late Vedic period till the end of Maurya empire with occupation continuing till the Gupta empire. As a small town, it was established in the late Vedic period. During the Sunga period, it was the capital of the Vatsa which was a vassal state of the Sungas. After the decline of the Sungas, Vatsa (Kausambi is itself the fomal name associated with recovered coinage) became an independent kingdom (also: Vamsas[4]), one of the Mahajanapadas (Great Kingdoms) of ancient India. Kausambi was a very prosperous city by the time of Buddha, where a large number of wealthy merchants resided. It was an important entreport of goods and passengers from north-west and south. It figures very prominently in the accounts of the life of Buddha

INDO GREEK KINGDOM

Metal : Copper
Ruler/Year : Unknown
Obverse : King Head to Right
Weight : 2.33 grams

Metal : Copper
Ruler/Year : Unknown
Obverse : King Head to Right
Reverse : Greek legends
Weight : 2.08 Grams

Metal : Silver
Ruler/Year : Unknown

INDO ROMAN KINGDOM

Metal : Copper
Ruler/Year : Unknown
Weight : 1.77 Grams

Metal : Copper
Ruler/Year : Unknown


KUNINDA KINGDOM

The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern state of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal in northern India.

The history of the kingdom is documented from around the 2nd century BCE. They are mentioned in Indian epics and Puranas. The Mahabharata relates they were defeated by Arjuna.

One of the first kings of the Kuninda was Amoghbhuti, who ruled in the mountainous valley of the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers (in today's Uttarakhand and southern Himachal in northern India).

The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern state of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal in northern India.

Metal : Bronze
Type : AE Karshapana
Ruler : Amoghabhuti
Year : 20 BC - 80 AD
Obverse : Deer Right and Brahmi Legends
Reverse : Different Symbols
Weight : 2.61 grams
Diameter : 17 mm


INDO-SCYTHIANS

Metal : Copper
Year : 35 BC - 5 AD
Obverse : King on horseback riding right
Reverse : Legends


INDO-SASANIANS

Metal : Silver
Weight : 4.2grams
Year: 570 - 712 AD
Obverse : Winged bust of Peroz
Reverse : Fire altar & attendants


TAXILA(TAKSASILA) COINS

     Taxila, Sanskrit Takshashila, ancient city of northwestern Pakistan, the ruins of which are about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Rawalpindi Its prosperity in ancient times resulted from its position at the junction of three great trade routes: one from eastern India, described by the Greek writer Megasthenes as the “Royal Highway”; the second from western Asia; and the third from Kashmir and Central Asia. When these routes ceased to be important, the city sank into insignificance and was finally destroyed by the Huns in the 5th century CE.

Metal : Copper
Ruler/Year : Unknown
Obverse : Different Symbols

KUSHANA

     Kushana was an empire in South Asia originally formed in the early 1st century AD. The coin designs usually broadly follow the styles of the preceding Greco Bactrian rulers in using Hellenistic styles of image, with a deity on one side and the king on the other. Kings may be shown as a profile head, a standing figure, typically officiating at a fire altar in Zoroastrian style, or mounted on a horse.

VIMA KADPHISES

       Vima kadaphises was kushana king who ruled between 90 to 100 CE. He was the father of Kanishka. His kingdom was expanded to north west India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Metal : Copper

Ruler : Vima kadaphises

Weight : 16.8 grams

Obverse : Vima standing face left

Reverse : Shiva sitting on Nandi 

KANISHKA I

HUVISKA

He was successor of Kanishka. His rule was known by golden age of Kushana rule. 

Metal : Copper
Ruler : Huviska
Year : AD 158 - 195
Weight : 15.58 grams

Metal : Copper
Ruler : Huviska
Year : AD 158 - 195

Metal: Copper
Ruler : Unknown

Year : 30 – 375 AD

PANCHALA KINGDOM
      After Mauryan empire, many new kingdoms emerged on its ruins. One such kingdom to emerge in northern India was Panchala. This had been one of the 16 great mahajanapadas in the time of the Buddha. Draupadi, one of the central characters of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, was reportedly a Panchala princess. This janapada had been absorbed by Magadha as it pursued its program of expansion. But now the kingdom was reconstituted under the Mitra kings, who issued a most interesting and long-lived series of coins. Almost all the Panchala coins carry the name of the issuing king in Brahmi letters; these are some of the earliest indigenous Indian coins to carry legends. They typically carried an image of a deity on the obverse, most often the deity closely associated with the name of the issuing ruler, and an incuse punch on the reverse which had the legend bearing the king's name along with the three symbols of the Panchala kingdom above.

Ruler : Indramitra
Year : 45 - 65 CE
Value : Half Karshapana
Obverse : Indra
Reverse : Panchala symbols and Brahmi letters "Indramitra"
Weight : 4.66g
Diameter : 15mm
Ref : MAC 4539


KSHATRAPAS
     This dynasty produced many silver coins. These coins have two features of great interest. First, they typically name the king, thereby giving us information with which to establish a lineage. Second, starting in the year 178 CE and continuing for over 200 years, they are dated (in the Saka era, which commenced in the year 78 of the common era), so they also provide specific dates for each of the rulers in that period.

The Western Kshatrapas ruled parts of the modern states of Sind, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra, yet they called themselves kshatrapas or satraps. Because the mightiest kingdom during the early period of the Western Kshatrapas was that of the Kushans, many authors have concluded that the Western Kshatrapas must have been feudatories or governors of the Kushana king.

Metal : Silver

Ruler : Rudrasena
Obverse : Head of King to right
Reverse : Chaitya (3 Arched Hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above

Metal : Silver

Ruler : Rudrasena
Obverse : Head of King to right
Reverse : Chaitya (3 Arched Hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above

Metal : Silver

Ruler : Yashodamanah
Year : S. 251 (=329 CE)
Obverse : Head of King right, date behind head(251)
Reverse : Chaitya (3 Arched Hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above
               Brahmi legends around "rajna kshatrapasa rudrasihaputrasa rajna kshtrapasa yasodamanah"

Above coins are Kshatrapa coins, but ruler name is unknown.

Year: 35 – 405 AD

Metal: Silver

Metal : Lead

Obverse : Elephant

Ruler: Unknown

Modern Forgeries of Kshatrapa Coins

SANGAM AGE COINS

Metal : Lead
Year : 2nd Century
Obverse : Elephant to right
Weight : 1.42 grams


NAGAS
      

     The area between Vindhya and the Himalaya was called Aryavarta . According to Allahabad Prasasti of Samudra Gupta led expeditions two times in the north or Aryavarta. The seventh verse of the Allahabad inscription states that Samudra Gupta achieved complete victory over the kings Achyuta , Naga Sena , Rudradeva , Matila , Naga Datta , Chandravarman , Ganapati Naga , Nanadin and Balavarman of the North. Some part of this verse has been lost.

Padmavati (modern Padam Pawaya in Gwalior) was probably an independent kingdom in this area. Some coins found there reveal the names of kings might have been the rulers in the fourth century A.D.

Twelve rulers of the dynasty- Vrisha, Bhima, Skanda, Vasu, Brihaspati, Vibhu, Ravi, Bhava, Prabhakar, Deva, Vyaghra and Ganapati are known from their coins .

The coins of these rulers are peculiarly small, weighing 9,1 or 36grains. They bear the name of the king one one side in Bramhi and a symbol or an animal or bird or wheel on the other side. A humped bull is most common. Among birds, peacock is seen prominently

Metal : Copper
Ruler : Ganapathi Naga

Year : 340 AD

KIDARITES

      In the middle of the 4th century AD a Kushana vassal in Pakistan, Kidara by name, rose to power and overthrew the old Kushana dynasty. We call his declining domain the “Kidarite kingdom” but he thought of himself as a Kushana, and so styled himself on his coins. Though he is named as king (Shah) on his coins, it seems that Kidara was probably the head of a confederacy of warlords whose descendants ruled their principalities and issued coins in their own right.

According to Chinese accounts of the period the Kidarite lands continued to experience the peaceful prosperity of elder Kushana days, though there was a significant reduction in the grandeur quotient due to lack of surplus funds. The Kidarite regime of faded glory succumbed to a social disaster. The whole region - Afghanistan to northern India - was invaded by people we call the Hephthalites (Huns).

Metal : Copper

Year : 360 - 460 AD

Obverse : Stylized Shiva and bull

Reverse :  Kota symbol,  crescents to either side

Reference. Göbl 187, Mitchiner 3782v


GUPTA EMPIRE

Kumaragupta

Chandragupta II was succeeded by his son Kumaragupta, whose earliest known date is (Gupta era) 96 (=416 CE). His reign was peaceful, except at the very end when he faced rebellion in his western provinces, which his son Skandagupta was dispatched to suppress. Kumaragupta reigned c. 415-455. His gold coins are considered some of the finest examples of Indian numismatic art. He also issued a large silver coinage, some very rare coins in copper and also coins in lead. 

Metal : Copper
Ruler : Kumara gupta
Year : AD 415-455
Obverse : Kings Head

Skandagupta

Metal : Silver
Ruler : Skandagupta

Metal : Silver
Ruler : Unknown

ANCIENT SRILANKA

Parakrama Bahu I

Parakramabahu I was king of Sri Lanka from 1153 to 1186. During his reign from his capital Polonnaruwa, he unified the three sub kingdoms of the island, becoming one of the last monarchs in Sri Lankan history to do so. He oversaw the expansion and beautification of his capital, constructed extensive irrigation systems, reorganized the country's army, reformed Buddhist practices, encouraged the arts and undertook military campaigns in southern India and in Myanmar.

Metal : Bronze
Year : 1153 - 1186 AD
Obverse : Standing King
Reverse : Seated King in left devanagari legends "Sri Para Krama Bahu"

Sri Sahasa Malla

This is ancient Srilankan Coin, which belongs to ruler Sri Sahasa Malla (1200-1202 AD). Sahasa malla was younger brother of King Nissanka Malla ruled for 2 years.

Obverse : Traditional Lankan massa design of standing king The head consists of an irregular oblong, the right side being a vertical line, from which projects three horizontal stokes representing the nose, mouth and chin. The crown bulging outwards at the back. The two curved lines on either side of the legs slightly turned upwards at the end indicate a person wearing a 'dhoti', and standing on a lotus stalk with flower to the right. The forearm is bent sharply down; the hand grasps the hanging lamp. The right side elbow is curved down with the arm turned upwards holds a flower presumed to be a jasmine blossom.

On the obverse held in the left hand is Srivatsa, underneath it is a chank joined to a Lotus stalk which is under the figure. A flower [ Picha Mala] is at the on the lotus stalk under the left hand side of figure. Above this is four Gola's and a Disc.[ These look similar but of different size]. The left hand holds a Picha mala.

Reverse : Traditional Lankan massa design of seated king. Head and crown as on obverse. Arm is raised upwards and the hand holds a conch shell. On right Devanagari legend Sri ma tSa ha sa Ma lla. The seated figure, the throne or Asana is not seen as on coins of Vijayabahu I etc, but hold a Chank in left hand. A Total of 8 symbols, perhaps forms an Astamangala. The Seated Figure. Many interpretations are given, A King, Vishnu, Kubera etc.

GADHIYA COINS

    These type of coins issued in North India by many dynasties Gujarat Chalukyas, Gujarat Chuduvas, Malwa Silaharas etc. On some coins we can see "Om" and "Omkara" in Hindi.

Metal : Silver

Ruler : Unknown

Time : 10th or 11th Century.

KANGRA
     A small hill state lying between the rivers of Ravi and Sutlej existed from very early times. Kangra is a district is in the western part of Himachal Pradesh, in the low foothills of the Himalayas. It was the place of an ancient Hindu Kangra Kingdom. The kings of Kangra are almost unknown in history, their existence was shadowy and the dating of their reigns is tentative. Kangra rulers issued coins of Bull and horseman type of Samantadeva. Sri Rupa and many kings were ruled on Kangra from 1400-1700 century period.

Metal : Copper
Ruler : Unknown
Year : 14th to 17th Century