If you made it through the thread on Nahapana overstruck coins, and if you did a little back reading to on the last post you might enjoy seeing another coin that I was able to scratch off my very long list. The FIRST Western Satrap. Chastana's relationship with Nahapana is unknown but he is recorded as a ruler in Ptolemy's Geography (another great book check it out, get a Big One). It is known that at some point Chastana was co-ruling and/ or close ally with Nahapana and may have been a general who rose to prominence under Nahapana's leadership. On the coins of Chastana he is mentioned as the son of an unknown person Zamotika. Classified as foreign invaders of India by the native Satavahana, Ptolemy claimed they were Indo-Scythians. Chastana is recorded as having reclaimed all of Nahapanas last lands from the Satavahana. He went on to establish Saka Era Calendar of which all future rulers coins would be dated starting on March 22 AD 78. The Saka Calendar was in continued use through out the Gupta Period and as was used well into the decline of Buddhism in India. The calendar was officially adopted in India in AD 1957. Saka Chastana Kardamaka (r. AD 78-130) Kardamaka Dynasty AR Drachm 16 mm x 2.02 grams Obverse: Formal bust of Chastana right - Blundered Greek Legend PANNIΩ IATPAΠAC CIASTANCA Reverse: Rev: Chaitya with moon, star and river. Brahmi legend Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Yhsamotikaputrasa Casthanasa: "King and Great Satrap Chastana, son of Zamotika. Note: ex. Alex Fishman
What I know, is that whenever I read your posts now, all I see is a gold Tanit in my peripheral vision. Very distracting.
nahapanna is on my list! i didn't even know who this guy was to put him on my list! here's my only western satrap, vijayasena...who i guess fell kind of in the middle of the there fellows chronologically
