This coin came with a slip that attributes it to Kashmir, Jagadeva, 12th-century. The obverse is supposedly a king seated, facing. Would that be Jagadeva? How can you tell? I see what appear to be letters to the right of the king. Are these of the Nagari script, and if so, how do you read them? I cannot find the Nagari alphabet online. The reverse is supposedly a goddess seated left. Would that be the goddess Sarasvati? Also, this coin is attributed to Kashmir, but the gold pagodas of Jagadeva are assigned to Vidarbha, which is central India. Are we talking about different mints or a disagreement concerning where any of the coins of Jagadeva were minted? I'm obviously a fish out of water here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 5.42g
Yes this is an AE stater of King Jagadeva of Kashmir. The left photo shows the standing king. The right photo shows godess Ardochsho/Lakshmi enthroned with a lotus stem and nice earrings. The script is a regional variety of Late Brahmi/Sharada. The E like character to the left of Lakshmi is "Ja" the Pi like character to the right of Lakshmi is "Ga" The L shape to the right of the legs of the standing king is "De". Making the first part of the name of the king. Your coin is a very late version of a Kushan prototype:
The degradation becomes less surprizing considering the interval of 800 years between these two coins. The Kashmir coins are generally thought to be modelled after the intermediate copper coinage of Hunnic king Toramana II (Which again was modelled after the Kushan type): Note that Lakshmi sits on a tiger, instead of the earlier throne.
The issues of Toramana certainly help clarify what you're supposed to be seeing on the stater of Jagadeva.
hey THC, don't go to far...i'm going to need you later this week. that's pretty cool JA, i've seen these before....i always think they are facing kermit the frogs on both sides.