Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;acanthite, post: 176797, member: 6647&quot;]I wanted to share one of the Christmas presents I gave myself. By no means rare, it is a silver drachm from the Turko-Hephthalic empire, the Hindu Shahi of Kabul, 850-970AD. Obverse is horseman with spear, reverse is a bull with the enscription &#039;shri spalapati deva&#039; in Brahmi script. Minted at Ohind. There is the mark of a trident on the rear flank of the bull. The &#039;bull and horseman&#039; design was used for centuries in South Asia, the coins becoming increasingly debased as time went on (I also have a crude example from Mohammed bin Sam of Delhi). It is a little piece of interesting Buddhist/Hindu culture present in an area we now associate with strict Islamic teachings. You&#039;ll remember the Taliban&#039;s efforts to destroy Buddhist monuments a number of years back.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Revised: It appears the script translates as spalapati deva, not samanta deva as written in my subject line. This places the coin at 800-880AD.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The attached picture is from the seller, I&#039;m not yet set up to take adequate photos.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in