Spotted this little oddball on the 'bay. The coin is described as Potin. First, everyone knows Potin doesn't hold up well, and the coin appeared to be in excellent shape condition wise. This comes from a series of coins that was issued in Banavasi from the mid 4th century to the 6th century but are oddly often given earlier dates. (1st cent.) The first century AD date doesn't work because the Kadamba of Banavasi gained independence from the Pallava in AD 345. A historical event I know next to nothing about. This particular coin comes from the second ruler of the Kadamba dynasty. Named Raja Kanga Varma. He ruled AD 365-390. Kadamba coins are often found in mixed hoards with coins of the Satavahana and Chutu. In 2006 a hoard of these Kadamba coins was discovered for the first time. Most of those are of later, early 6th century rulers. India, Banavasi Kadamba Kingdom Kanga Varma (r. AD 365-390) Potin Unit 18 mm x 0.93 grams Obverse: Zebu Bull right Kannada Legend around. Reverse: Repeating arrow design. Ref: Unpublished Note: Ex. Rare, high grade, off center. (Any help with the legend would be appreciated )
Hey Noob => that example is very cool ... animals and weapons!! (congrats) I've never seen an example before (hopefully it's cool) ... great coin see the way I did that? (I was just tuggin' your chain) ... that's a coin-term?
Looks like a winner to me---I really like the devices and style. I wish I could be of some help with the legends.....
another coin that i haven't seen, cool zebu but that bow and arrow design really stands out. kind of reminds me of the elymais AE drachms that have the repeating "dot" pattern on the back...but a bow is MUCH cooler!
Sorry, can't make out the legend on this one. The script is supposed to be proto-Kannada, which more resembles Brahmi than Kannada. I'v also seen these bull types attributed as pre-Kadamba. Above the bull could read "Sa Ma" or "Sa Va" but only part of the characters is visible. The text in front and beneath the bull seems to be in a degenerate script. But still a very nice catch !
Saw this coin, was interested because of the cool Zebu and bow/arrow designs, passed because I knew NOTHING about it. Nice catch NoobMonster!
Did some browsing through "Ancient Indian Coins Revisited" by W. Pieper. Your coin is a good match to Pieper#721. He describes it as "Post-Satavahana, Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh border, 3d cent AD.
What do you make of that? Should this be considered an independent local coinage. Then this is technically a Pallava coin is thre any reference to the Kadamba? I suppose the coin then predates this dynasty? Now Kanga Varma a local ruler unknown to us, it doesn't seem to be a local title? As always I appreciate the effort you put forth, these Indians are not "easy" coins. I can easily see a life long study. I look for new and interesting dynasties and Kingdoms and there seems to be no end in site.
In this you probably know more than i do. I have no idea upon what evidence the attribution to Kanga Varma is based. His mayor historic achievement seems to be he lost the war against the Vakataka. However, an attribution as Post-Satavahana or early Kadamba seems a good guess for this coin.
So after all these years I finally have a newer attribution to this coin Buddhananda Satakani of the lesser Satavahana dynasty of Banavasi. This one has "Dha ma Ma ha ra ja..." legend inscribed retrograde below the bull.
