Chalukyas of Gujarat: A common but cool Indian drachm

Ancientnoob · Sep 3, 2016

Sallent said: ↑

You could argue they still don't have too much interest. I've seen dealers selling these in online lots of 15 or 20 at around $10 to $15 per coin because because they can't be bothered to individually sort them out and list them.

I've also noticed that quite a few ancient coin dealers fail to properly attribute their Indian coins, and I doubt many bother to try unless they truly specialize in them. It's kind of like the wild wild west of ancient and medieval numismatics.

I don't mind the lack of Interest. It just means that there are more wonderful Indian silver coins at very low and reasonable prices, and with little competition for them.

Personally, I really like the unique styles of Indian coins, and I could care less if eurocentric collectors and dealers don't.
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John Anthony · Sep 3, 2016

Sallent said: ↑

You could argue they still don't have too much interest. I've seen dealers selling these in online lots of 15 or 20 at around $10 to $15 per coin because because they can't be bothered to individually sort them out and list them.

I've also noticed that quite a few ancient coin dealers fail to properly attribute their Indian coins, and I doubt many bother to try unless they truly specialize in them. It's kind of like the wild wild west of ancient and medieval numismatics.

I don't mind the lack of Interest. It just means that there are more wonderful Indian silver coins at very low and reasonable prices, and with little competition for them.

Personally, I really like the unique styles of Indian coins, and I could care less if eurocentric collectors and dealers don't.
Click to expand...

Our two CT Indian numismatic gurus are THCoins and A-noob. You should visit CoinIndia if you're interested in Indian coins and perhaps even get in touch with Pankaj Tandon if you'd like to join the Oriental Numismatic Society - I gave a lecture for them on Nabataean Numismatics at least year's NYINC. It's a great bunch of people!

Ancientnoob · Sep 3, 2016

I'm also glad I am like the only person in the world collecting the Empire of the Satavahana BC 250 - 220 AD.

Sallent · Sep 3, 2016

Ancientnoob said: ↑

I'm also glad I am like the only person in the world collecting the Empire of the Satavahana BC 250 - 220 AD.

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Wow! That is so nice. . I hope you don't mind if I PM you in the future if I have any questions on Indian coinage. It's nice to have an expert in here to help a novice like me sort Indian coinage out. I've ordered some books too that will hopefully help me make sense of it all.

chuckylucky5 · Feb 10, 2019

Sallent said: ↑

Yeah, these are common as dirt, but since I discovered the type about a month ago, I've wanted one. These appear to be attributed to the Chalukyas, a trio of dynasties that ruled southern and central India from the 6th century through 12th century. If that's the case, I would imagine it would have to be the Western Chalukyas for this particular coin.

I think this might be closest to @dougsmit 's type F. It's basically a degenerated copy of Sassanian coinage, with an impressionist type bust in the front, and a rather aspirational impressionist version of a fire altar in the reverse. An interesting note, the flans were always too small for the dies, so you need multiple coins to appreciate the design, though mine seems to have captured a fair bit of the main details.

The Chalukyas are an interesting bunch. They seemed to have been well organized, built amazing temples and other great architectural feats, and definitely left quite an impact on Indian culture. Anyway, here is the coin in question:

View attachment 533553
India, Chalukyas of Gujarat.AR Drachm
Obv: Crude Indo-Sasanian style bust right
Rev: Stylized fire altar.
Deyell 158, NI 427. 11th century A.D. 4.22g.

It may definitely benefit from a little cleaning, but I think I'll leave it as is. Now, I know some of you have them too, so show some of yours off.

And of course, here is the coin type that inspired the coin above. Hard to believe, but the Indians started with these Sassanians as a prototype, and it eventually degenerated into the design above after 5 centuries or so of tweaking the design here and there.

View attachment 533554
Kavadh I
Sassanian Empire

* The inspiration that started the march towards what would eventually become the Indian coin above.
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Ancientnoob said: ↑

There was a time in the not to distant past when these coins had little interest.

View attachment 533635
Click to expand...

Ancientnoob said: ↑

There was a time in the not to distant past when these coins had little interest.

View attachment 533635
Click to expand...

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Chalukyas of Gujarat: A common but cool Indian drachm

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John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

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Sallent Live long and prosper

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Chalukyas of Gujarat: A common but cool Indian drachm

Ancientnoob Money Changer

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John Anthony Ultracrepidarian

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Sallent Live long and prosper

chuckylucky5 Well-Known Member

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