I figure there are enough people here who can appreciate a good elephant or a ratty little Indian coin. This coin was struck in the first century AD at an unknown location. This coin type was minted nearly 2 centuries often with the proper names of Kings and in later times (Like this case) mention only a family name...Satakanri although there was at least 2 kings by this name the weight and material of the coin place it in (37 BC to 107 AD). The reverse is of particular interest to me, there are various interpretations of what they symbol is. The reverse symbol as been used on coins of central since early times in and around the city of Ujjain. (Jammu) I have seen it described as for dotted lobes attached to a central node. Another common interpretation of the symbol is that it represent the Sun or that it represents the four directions, N,S,E and W. Empire of the Satavahana Anonymous Potin Karshapana S.37 BC to 107 AD 19 mm x 2.64 g Obverse: Jeweled Elephant right.Brahmi- Sa Ta Ka Ni Sa Revers: Ujjain Symbol Ref: Mitchiner ACW 4941ff
Thanks for the compliment. This coin is pretty common, if not the most common ancient Indian coin type.
awesome little coin AN, i love weird asian coins. one of the type is on my list for sure. that one is pretty darn nice compared to most i've seen.
Interesting looking coin, if you had not said the obverse was an elephant I would have never guessed. The reverse looks pretty neat too.
Here one of the other family members: Vasisthiputra Pulumavi. Above the elephant in Brahmi [RaNo SiRi Pu]LuMaViSa.
My two, shown in the same order as the first two, show slightly different arts of the legends which never all make it on flan, it seems. Both of mine and the one posted by THCoins shows the reverse symbols' central device more as connecting bars than a 'central node'. While common, the coins I have seen really look like they were made in a rush and many are very poorly centered. Finding the one you want may take a little looking.
Cool addition, Noob (and others) ... sadly, I don't have one of these elephant examples, "yet" ... Curious, does the reverse design have any significance (4 cities, or 4 families, or 4 alien crop-circles!!?)
Doug's last coin is a nice illustration that the symbol on the reverse actually is not the Ujjain symbol. When the Satavahana came to power over this region they did copy the Ujjain symbol, but added an extra crescent to it as a distinguishing feature. Commonly this is off flan however.
See when I saw originally saw examples with the crescent I assumed that was part of another coin, thinking maybe these coins were struck in line. Shows how much I know.
If you look at examples of the Satavahana silver coinage (sorry haven't got one to show) there usually is a smaller and complete version of the symbol. (And i guess what you have learned is more important than what you know ?)
Yea, I wanted some Satavahana silver coinage but they have some rather high prices, some of the most expensive Indian Native coinage I have come across. One of those is going on the list...
@Shreyank - since this posting I have greatly expanded my collection - check out my threads on Satavahana coinage. Quite a few silvers and some of the rarer silver and bronze coins.
