(India) Kalachuris Of Mahishmati, Krishnaraja AR Drachm

More progress in a side project to collect a type set (1 or more from each issuing dynasty) of Indian drachms based on the Indo-Greek drachm.

Kalachuris of Mahishmati
Krishnaraja c. 550-575 AD
AR drachm (or rupaka?)
Gupta-style bust right
Nandi seated right on "platform", Brahmi legend
parama maheswara mata pitri padanudhyata sri krishnaraja





Despite being a clearly wealthy and influential king, not much is known about Krishnaraja or his empire, which thrived as the remnants of the Gupta empire crumbled. He is credited as one of the more likely patrons of the masterpiece rock-hewn temple at Elephanta Island, and likely contributed to the Ellora complex as well. Both Elephanta and "his" caves at Ellora are Shaivite temples, dedicated to the worship of Shiva as the head of the Hindu pantheon:



These drachms are imitative of a nearly identical issue by the Gupta emperor Skandagupta (455-467) but are identifiable both by legend and the portrait style. Krishnaraja is also known to have issued coins in bronze, featuring Nandi on the obverse (Nandi is the humped bull mount of Shiva in Hindu mythology) and a simple legend "Sri Krishnaraja" on the reverse. The drachms are markedly scarcer than the coins of the Kshatrapas, Guptas, or Maitrakas, but are still reasonably available and quite affordable. I haven't seen bronzes available for purchase.