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(India) Kalachuris Of Mahishmati, Krishnaraja AR Drachm

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Finn235's Avatar
United States
6130 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2017  09:59 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Finn235 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
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

India-Kalachuris-Of-Mahishmati,-Krishnaraja-AR-Drachm

India-Kalachuris-Of-Mahishmati,-Krishnaraja-AR-Drachm

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:

India-Kalachuris-Of-Mahishmati,-Krishnaraja-AR-Drachm

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.
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echizento's Avatar
United States
23731 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2017  1:01 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add echizento to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Nice find, not come across any of this type before.
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Palouche's Avatar
Spain
2752 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2017  7:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Palouche to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Nice coin Really like the look of these they seem quite thick !

What's the size and weight?

Paul
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Kamnaskires's Avatar
United States
7066 Posts
 Posted 07/19/2017  7:24 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Kamnaskires to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply


Quite nice. I can see the similarities to the earlier Western Kshatrapas silvers...although a much tighter flan here, and more stylization. Excellent pick-up.
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Finn235's Avatar
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6130 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2017  12:22 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Finn235 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks all!

@ Albert, apologies for not posting that in the OP. The coin is a tiny little thing; 13mm and 2.02g according to my measurements.

I think what has always amazed me is how of the various Indian dynasties to produce coins after the fall of the Greeks, the Kshatrapas produced arguably the most beautiful coins, at least in terms of silver. Yet the Kshatrapas left (almost?) no art; no grand monuments or statues. But the famed Guptas and their successors were internationally famous patrons of the fine arts, yet they produced dumpy little coins with legends so blocky they are tough to read!
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Spence's Avatar
United States
34418 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2017  05:20 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Spence to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Great pick-up!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
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"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Justinokay's Avatar
United States
564 Posts
 Posted 07/20/2017  11:31 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Justinokay to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Nice pickup Steve!
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