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Coins of ancient India

The earliest Indian coinage began about 600 BC in the Ganges valley and adjacent regions with a series of punchmarked issues. A brief synopsis of the history of all the different cultures listed below is in the works. The organization follows Mitchiner's Ancient and Classical World and Non-Islamic States.

 



Successors of Ajatashatru (462 - 414 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 3939v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 294v. (type III I A 9)
19 mm.
3.30 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: At least 5 punched symbols including: Sun; 6-armed symbol; three 'lotus buds', each containing a taurine symbol; three fish (?) or plants (?) arranged geometrically around a central anulet; plant symbol.
Reverse: 3 punched symbols: Eye (?), four-fingered hand print (?) and sun.


Period of Saisunaga and Kalasoka (circa 420 BC)
AR Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 3997v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 305v. (type III IV A 1)
22 mm.
3.11 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Overstruck on earlier issue. Traces of at least 9 punched symbols including: 2 suns; 6-armed symbol; elephant; dog surrounded by taurine symbols.
Reverse: Traces of undertype; numerous bankers marks.


Anonymous (circa 500 - 300 BC)
AR 1/8 Satamana
Mitchiner
14 x 12 mm.
0.92 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Septa-radiate symbol.
Reverse: Blank.

NNarbada Valley

Avanti Kingdom


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 544v. (type VI IV B 5)
15 mm.
3.08 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VIb)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 560v.
16 x 12 mm.
3.17 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VIb)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 566
12 x 13 mm.
2.38 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 270-150 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VI)
Mitchiner ACW 4195-4197; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 574 (type VI IV F 145)
16 x 13 mm.
3.34 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 5 punched symbols: Sun, 6-armed symbol, hill symbol, plant symbol and humped bull.
Reverse: Pellet surrounded by 2 crescents and 2 arrow-type symbols (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 473 'Taxila' symbol).


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 586-587v.
14 x 11 mm.
2.68 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Mitchiner ACW 4245v.; Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 590 (type VII II C 24)
12 x15 mm.
2.42 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 3 punched symbols: 3 figures, rooster on stupa and geometrical symbol.
Reverse: Rooster on stupa symbol (Gupta/Hardaker ISPC mark 477).


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 591
10 x 15 mm.
2.57 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AR Karshapana (Series VII)
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 591
14 mm.
2.68 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa 210-190 BC)
AAR Karshapana (Series VII (?))
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC 594 type variant (?)
13 x 12 mm.
2.72 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
RReverse:

 



Anonymous/Symbol series (circa 150 - 75 BC)
AE Half Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4620v.
18 x 19 mm.
5.26 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: 6-armed symbol, railed tree to left, standard to right; rectangles containing frogs and fish above and below, taurine symbol and swastika to left, Ujjain symbol to right.
Reverse: Ujjain symbol (4-armed 'swirls' within annulets).


Later Sunga kings (circa 150 BC - 100 AD)
AE Half Karshapana
Magnetic (!)
Mitchiner ACW 4381v.
16 x 13 mm.
2.31 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Horse (?) left.
Reverse: Cross left, three-arched hill (chaitya) with crescent, above; railed tree, right.

Northern India during the post-Mauryan Period
(220 BC - 80 AD)

Northern Pakistan

Pushkalavati


Anonymous early series of Pushkalavati (circa 220 - 185 BC)
AE Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4389
21 x 18 mm.
7.75 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Mound of 9 pellets, stupa with crescent above; river and other symbols below.
Reverse: Blank.


Anonymous late series of Pushkalavati (circa 185 - 160 BC)
AE 1 1/2 Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4402
24 x 17 mm. (rectangular)
7.85 gm.
Die position=6h

AE Half Karshapana (Later series: circa 180 - 160 BC)
Mitchiner ACW 4418
22 x 21 mm.
5.30 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Railed tree or floral ornament.
Reverse: Cross, right; traces of three-arched hill (chaitya), left.


Civic Coinage (160 - 345 AD)
PB Double Karshapana
Mitchiner ACW 4971
28 mm.
11.11 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Eight-arched hill (chaitya); Brahmi legend.
Reverse: Sacred railed tree; traces of nandipana symbol on each side.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Mitchiner NIS 800v. type
18 x 16 mm.
5.33 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Elephant right.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Mitchiner NIS 801v. type
11 x 10 mm.
0.81 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Horse right.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Mitchiner NIS 801v. type
13 x 10 mm.
0.61 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Horse left.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Magnetic (!)
Mitchiner NIS 801v. type
11 x 10 mm.
1.40 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Elephant (?) right.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Mitchiner NIS 801v. type
13 x 10 mm.
2.00 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Elephant (?) right.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.


Cheras of Kerala (?) (circa 100 BC - 400 AD (?))
AE Unit
Magnetic (!)
Mitchiner NIS 801v. type
12 x 10 mm.
0.92 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Horse right; star above.
Reverse: Bow and arrow.

 

Non-Pandyan types

Indo-Roman coinage

Ceylon


Anonymous (circa 475 - 615 AD)
AE/FE Panchi (magnetic)
Mitchiner ACW 5122-5125v.
22 mm.
8.45 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Sankh shell between standards. Ornamental border.
Reverse: Lion standing right with paw raised.


Vishnukundins: Anonymous (circa 475 - 615 AD)
AE/FE Panchi (magnetic)
Mitchiner NIS 628-632 type
18 x 19 mm.
6.33 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Sankh shell between standards; ornamental border.
Reverse: Lion standing right with paw raised.


Vishnukundins: Anonymous (circa 475 - 615 AD)
AE/FE Panchi (magnetic)
Mitchiner NIS 628-632 type
17 mm.
5.16 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Sankh shell between standards; ornamental border.
Reverse: Lion standing right with paw raised.

Vishnukundins/Chalukyas


Sri Modhawa (?) (circa 550 AD (?))
AR/FE Unit (magnetic)
Mitchiner ACW -
14 mm.
1.72 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Bull, right. Brahmi legend (?).
Reverse: Sankh shell between standards. Ornamental border.

Eastern Chalukya issues of Vishnukundin type

 


Uncertain ruler of the Kalinga region (circa 650 AD)
AE/FE Unit (magnetic)
Mitchiner ACW 5131v.
11 mm.
0.80 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Lion standing right with uncertain legend above.
Reverse: Sankh shell with lamp on each side; ornamental border.

 

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

Nagas of Narwar


Samudragupta (circa 335 - 380 AD)
AV Stater
Mitchiner ACW 4780
20 mm.
7.50 gm.
Die position=12h
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 I (414 - 455 AD)
AR Drachm (Western provinces Garuda type)
Mitchiner ACW 4845 - 4854
11 mm.
2.03 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust of king, right.
Reverse: Formalized Garuda standing facing with spread wings. In Brahmi:'Parama-bhagavata rajahiraja Sri Kumaragupta Mahendraditya'.


Skandagupta (455 -480 AD)
AR Drachm (Western provinces Bull type)
Mitchiner ACW 4879 - 4882
12 mm.
1.82 gm.
Die position=3h
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


Anonymous (470 - 800 AD)
Billon Drachm (Later issues)
Mitchiner ACW 4897 - 4898
11 mm.
1.95 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust of king, right.
Reverse: Trident with curved prongs and side-arm. Corrupt Brahmi legend.

SSuccessor states in Malwa


Hephthalites in Malwa (?) (c.475-530 CE)
AE Fraction
Mitchiner ACW 4902v. (?)
6 x 7 mm.
0.24 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Sankh shell; crescents.
Reverse: Inscription (?); tamgha (?)

Vardhanas (Pushyabhutis)


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

 

Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh

 


Samanta Deva (circa 850 - 970 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 1585
20 x 19 mm.
3.20 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Stylized horseman holding spear riding right.
Reverse: Stylized humped bull with Brahmi name above.




Rajput Dynasties of Saurashtra and Gujarat

Saindhava/Chalukya/Abhira/Chapa series of Saurashtra and Gujarat


Anonymous (circa 800 - 950 AD)
AAR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 419-422
18 mm.
4.07 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
RReverse: Stylized fire altar.

Chaulukya series of Saurashtra and Gujarat


AAnonymous (circa 950 - 1050 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 423-426
17 mm.
3.98 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
RReverse: Stylized fire altar.

Chaulukya/Paramara series of Saurashtra, Gujarat and Malwa


Govinda Chandra (1114 - 1154 AD)
AV tater
Mitchiner NIS 490-496
17 mm.
3.91 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Four-armed Lakshmi seated, facing.
Reverse: Nagari legend.
NoNote: Later style.

 



Qutb ud-Din Mubarak (1316 - 1320 AD)
Billon 8 Gani AH 719 (1319/1320 AD)
Mitchiner WOI ?
15 x 15 mm.
3.60 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
RReverse: Arabic legend.


MMohammed III ibn Tughluq (1325 - 1351 AD)
AE Tanka / Token Currency (1329 AD)
Mitchiner WOI ?
21 mm.
9.07 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
RReverse: Persian legend.


Vijayanagar Kingdom


UUnknown Sangama Ruler (1357 - 1450 AD)
Billon Kasu
Unpublished
16 mm.
3.59 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Monkey god Hanuman running right.
RReverse: Stylized elephant (?) right, crescent above.


Bahamids of Kulbarga


Firoz Shah (1397 - 1421 AD)
AE Paisa
Khan 105
17 mm.
5.28 gm.
Die position=2h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
Reverse: Arabic legend.


Ahmad Shah II (1435 - 1457 AD)
AE Heavy Paisa
Khan -
21 mm.
13.39 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
Reverse: Arabic legend.

Kingdom of Juanpur


Husain Shah (1458 - 1479 AD)
AE Tanka
Mitchiner WOI ?
17 mm.
9.71 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
RReverse: Arabic legend.

Pandyas of Madurai


Bhuvaneka Viran Samarakolakalan (circa 1470 AD)
AE Unitbr
Mitchiner NIS 1151 - 1152
15 mm.
3.11 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Garuda running left.
RReverse: Legend.

Mughal Empire


Jalal al-Din Akbar (1556 - 1605 AD)
AR Rupee AH 983 (1576/1577 AD)
Mitchiner WOI 3040
27 mm.
11.43 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Arabic legend.
RReverse: Arabic legend.


Nayakas of Tinnevelly


Anonymous (circa 1650 AD)
AAE Two Kasu
Mitchiner NIS 1240
13 mm.
2.50 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Venkatesvara standing beneath doorway.
Reverse: Legend.


Anonymous (circa ___ BC)
AR Karshapana
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC ___ (type ___)
21 x 20 mm.
1.72 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa ___ BC)
AR Karshapana
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC ___ (type ___)
14 x 16 mm.
3.05 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa ___ BC)
AR Karshapana
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC ___ (type ___)
18 x 17 mm.
2.94 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa ___ BC)
AR Karshapana
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC ___ (type ___)
15 x 13 mm.
2.61 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:


Anonymous (circa ___ BC)
AAR Karshapana
Gupta/Hardaker ISPC ___ (type ___)
16 x 13 mm.
2.35 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse: