Today, 8-April, is traditionally celebrated as the birth of Buddha... This is a quick recap that I keep in my calendar: "Prince Guatama Siddhartha 563 BCE to 483 BCE, the son of the king of the Shakya people (Republic). Siddhartha reached enlightenment, becoming a Buddha at the age of 35. The Gautama Buddha then traveled to the deer park near Benares, India, where he gave his first sermon and outlined the basic doctrines of Buddhism. According to Buddhism, there are “four noble truths”: (1) existence is suffering; (2) this suffering is caused by human craving; (3) there is a cessation of the suffering, which is nirvana; and (4) nirvana can be achieved, in this or future lives, though the “eightfold path” of right views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration." Here is my Buddha coin, purported to be minted in the Shakya Janaprada during his lifetime... India - Shakya Janapada AR 5-Shana 6th-5th Century BCE 25mm x 21mm, 7.05g Obv: Central Pentagonal punch plus several banker's marks Rev: Blank Ref: Hirano Type I.8.29 Coinage from the Ghaghara Gandak River region. At this time, any of the 16 "Janapada" was defined as a tribe, country, kingdom, or a republic in northern India. Shakya was a Republic (ah, I love the Republics!), in northern India near present day Nepal. Please feel free to post any Indian coinage from this era, or just ANY cool Indian or cool Eastern coinage...in honor of Buddha's birthday celebration!
Happy birthday Buddha! Those are very interesting and distinctive coins - I know AN has another very nice example. I only started exploring various Far Eastern numismatics last year, so I haven't acquired much, but here is my small tribute. (Most of these coins belong to various CT members at this point - I must say, y'all have great tastes.)
Not from the period, but a much later Indo-Parthian coin showing Buddhist influence in the region. The symbol to the left of the standing figure is the Triratna. This is the symbol for the three jewels of Bhuddism: The Buddha, the Dharma (the path) and the Sangha (the community).
I dont collect ancients, and i do know that today is celebrated as Buddha's birthday, but i have to comment since today is my birthday too. Maybe i will look into finding one of these coins from that time period.
happy bday buddha! i'll post this recent sunga pick up again... the reverse shows a bodhi tree, a descendant of the tree that the budha sat under when he attained enlightenment. also a stupa (3 arched hill thing)...here's one that marks the spot where the budha gave his first seromon as mentioned by alleg... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa#/media/File:India-5172_-_Flickr_-_archer10_(Dennis).jpg plus other neat symbols.
Wonderful OP @Alegandron .....Terrific historical info! Great posts everyone!! I rarely seem to bid or purchase in this area as yet....so I'll simply post my modest eastern example of Meander....Well, it is in the general vicinity Happy Birthday 'big guy' !!
Way cool! Mine is purported to actually be issued by the Buddha prior to his Enlightenment. That is why I chased it. pretty amazing. AND, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
YUPPERS! I see mine in the tray!!! LOVE it! Nezak Huns, Spalapati Deva AR Jital, AD 750-850 Obv.: Horseman right holding lance. Rev.: Bull left, Sarada script. Reference: Tye 5.
Yeah, it's Friday!! => is this stuff Indo-enough-for-ya, my coin-friends? ... gawd, coins are fun, eh?
Happy Birthday Buddha...you could have had this kingdom and all the coins in it but you said, "no". India Kingdom of Magadha Bimbisara to Ajatasatru AR Karshapana (BC 550- 470) 28 mm x 3.42 grams Obverse: 5 Large Punchmarks and one bankers mark(?), Archaic bent rayed sun, Bow with Arrow, 6 rayed design, Bull head circle Bull Head, Large Solar symbol, center Tree(?) Ref: G&H Series I (Variation) Note: Buddha Cash coin! You could have had your very own great wealth, yet you renounced, leaving it for us to enjoy at a later date. India, Janapada, Shakya Republic Anonymous ( c. 600-500 BC) Lifetime and Homeland of Gautama Buddha. AR Archaic 5 Shana 30.4 mm x 14.6 mm x 6.79 g Unifaced: Primary Punch- Two Crescents (one with a root) Five secondary punch marks. Note: Cupric Deposit on reverse. ref: Rajgor 534
Like the OP, mine is also assumed to be issued by the Buddha prior to his Enlightenment. INDIA, Shakya AR 5 Shana ca. 600-500 B.C. Buddha Coin 6.71 gms, 26 mm x 19.5 mm Obv: One pellet around a central pentagon, ten secondary punches on rectangular planchet Rev: Blank pattern from multiple anvil strikes Grade: Essentially as made. Obverse silver is bright and beginning to re-tone. Other: Minted & circulated by the Indian prince who is the prophet Budha. Perhaps it was on his birthday when all he received were our silver coins and his tummy really wanted birthday cake & ice cream. That may be when he became enlightened and let go of his worldly things which we all now collect. It was either that or he was sitting under an abodhi tree.
issued by buddha? I doubt he had the authority... sakya coins were probably issued by his father or grandfather
Another great one that I acquired from John's tray that he posted above... INDIA, Indo-Scythian Kings. Azes I. Ca 57-30 BC. AR Drachm, 2.3g, 15mm, 11h. Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY / AZOY; Emperor on horseback right, holding whip and raising right hand, bow on his back. Karosthi letter in right field. Rev.: MAHARAJASA RAJARAJASA MAHATASA AYASA; Zeus standing left, holding long scepter and Nike, monograms in right and left fields. Reference: Senior - ,Whitehead -
Yours and @Ancientnoob 's inspired me to chase after and finally find my Shakya Janaprada during Buddha's lifetime... VERY tough one to capture!
