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The Ganges Valley and adjacent regions
during the Kushan and post-Kushan periods

Yaudheyas of Punjab


Civic Coinage (300 - 340 AD)
AE Tetradrachm (Early series, division 2)
Mitchiner ACW 4711 - 4715
25 mm.
10.62 gm.
Die position=12h
Obverse: Karttikeya standind facing, holding sceptre; peacock on right. In Brahmi:'Yaudheya Ganasya Jaya' (Victory to the Yaudheya people).
Reverse: Goddess standing with hand on hip, wearing transparent garment; lotus and nandipana symbol in field.


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).
Reverse: Goddess standing with hand on hip, wearing transparent garment.

Nagas of Narwar


Ganapati Naga (circa 340 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 4739 - 4750
8 mm.
0.67 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Humped bull standing left.
Reverse: In Brahmi:'Maharaja Sri Ganendra'.


Ganapati Naga (circa 340 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 4739 - 4750
7 mm.
0.18 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse: Humped bull standing left.
Reverse: In Brahmi:'Maharaja Sri Ganendra'.


Deva Naga (circa late 3rd Century AD)
AE 10 to 20 Rattis
Mitchiner ACW 4733
8 mm.
0.71 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:


Deva Naga (circa late 3rd Century AD)
AE 10 to 20 Rattis
Mitchiner ACW 4733
9 x 7 mm.
0.77 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse:
Reverse:

The Mitra Kings of Kosala


Satyamitra (circa 300 AD)
AE Unit
Mitchiner ACW 4761 - 4765
20 mm.
8.14 gm.
Die position=4h
Obverse:
Reverse:
Note: Magnetic.


The Gupta Empire and its successors

Gupta Empire


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.


Chandragupta II (circa 380 - 414 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4821 - 4823 (Western Provinces)
13 x 14 mm.
2.08 gm.
Die position=11h
Obverse: Bust of king right.
Reverse: Formalized Garuda standing facing with spread wings.


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'.


Kumaragupta I (414 - 455 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4845 - 4854
15 mm.
2.25 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse:
Reverse:


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'.


Skandagupta (455 - 480 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4872 - 4873
14 x 12 mm.
1.53 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Bust of king right.
Reverse: Altar with legend around.


Skandagupta (455 - 480 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4874 - 4878
11 x 12 mm.
1.93 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Debased bust of king right.
Reverse: Altar with legend around.

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.

Successor 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 (?)


Gupta Succession State north of Malwa (circa 5th Century AD)
AR Fractional Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4905 - 4909
12 mm.
0.78 gm.
Die position=n/a
Obverse:
Reverse:

Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand

Central and Eastern provinces

West Central provinces

The Maukharis

Isanavarman (circa 535 - 610 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner ACW 4929-4930
14 mm.
2.11 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust left.
Reverse: Fan-tail Garuda.

Vardhanas (Pushyabhutis)

Siladitya, Harshavardhana (606 - 647 AD)
AR Drachm
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'.

This is a coin of the famous king Harsha, whom the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, Xuanzang, met in 642.

Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh


Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh
Anonymous Coinage (circa 570 - 712 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 214 type (and later)
21 mm.
3.91 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 215v.
22 mm.
3.73 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 216v.
22 mm.
3.63 gm.
Die position=3h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 217v.
22 mm.
3.69 gm.
Die position=8h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 217v.
22 mm.
3.90 gm.
Die position=4h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh
Anonymous Coinage (circa 570 - 712 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 218 type
21 x 20 mm.
3.97 gm.
Die position=9h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Gurjura Kingdom of Sindh
Anonymous Coinage (circa 570 - 712 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 218 type
21 mm.
4.01 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Bust right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.


Anonymous (circa 570 - 700 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 218v.
22 mm.
4.12 gm.
Die position=7h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

The coins listed above are sometimes referred to as Indo-Sasanian or Hephthalite coins.

Imperial Pratiharas


Period of Pratihara-Pala Supremacy
AR Debased Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 361
19 x 20 mm.
3.83 gm.
Die position=1h
Obverse: Crude bust right.
Reverse: Stylized fire altar and attendants.


Anonymous (circa 780 - 980 AD)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 364v.
20 mm.
3.97 gm.
Die position=10h
Obverse: Stylized Sasanian-like bust, right. Brahmi Sri DaMa (?)
Reverse: Stylized fire altar.

Palas


Early Pala Coinage
Devapala (circa 810-850)
AR Drachm
Mitchiner NIS 381
19 mm.
3.25 gm.
Die position=6h
Obverse: Stylized bust right.
Reverse: Rude fire altar.




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