Hindu Shahis - Spalapati Deva AR Jital

I've always liked these little Jitals and pick up several of these a few years back when they were still cheap. Can't seem to find the pictures at the moment.

Nice looking coin!

Given the Muslim taboo on graven images it is a bit surprising that they kept the Hindu motif on the coins. No doubt that was an accommodation to the sensibilities of the people of the land who trusted what had been familiar, even under the overlordship of another regime.

I acquired one of these several years ago, and now, thanks to you, I can write up an attribution for it. The main features are the same, but the inscription above the bull reads differently on mine (I think), and I don't see an inscription on the rider side.

@IRB, drnsreedhar has a fantastic running thread detailing the post-conquest types, albeit in no particular order:
http://goccf.com/t/267786&SearchTerms=samanta

Some issuers seem to have knowingly issued "graven" coins, while others stylized to the point that it could be written off as a geometric design, as the Tabaristani governors had done with the "heathen" Zoroastrian fire altar and attendants.

I do happen to have an image handy of the much more common "Samanta Deva" bull & horseman jital, although I have a number in a few different styles. This one in particular has a ":" at the end of the legend, which would make it the slightly scarcer "Samanta Devah" type, or Tye #28



Samanta and Spalapati types can be distinguised mainly by Spalapati's upward-facing "hook" on the second character, and also by the more scratchy-looking lettering. Samanta Deva types usually (but not always) have much more stylized figures.

These are fun coins to buy, because they can easily be had for $10 or less in very desirable condition, and even the choicest examples of the scarcest types rarely fetch more than $30.

Also @Albert, you are correct that the bull bears the Trishula emblem, which is a symbol of Shiva; Nandi being his personal mount in Hindy mythology. Although Shaivism (the Hindu school which holds Shiva supreme among the pantheon) is still practiced today, it was apparently much more common in late classical and early medieval India.