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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Parthicus, post: 5130585, member: 81887&quot;][ATTACH=full]1203628[/ATTACH] </p><p>Kashmir.&nbsp; AE stater (21 mm, 7.23 g).&nbsp; Anonymous, c.570- 855 AD.&nbsp; Obverse: King standing facing, left hand holding scepter, right hand lowered to altar, Brahmi legend &quot;Sri Toramana&quot;.&nbsp; Reverse: Goddess enthroned facing, Brahmi legend &quot;Jaya&quot;.&nbsp; Mitchiner Non-Islamic 155-158.&nbsp; This coin: Purchased from Marc R. Breitsprecher, 2020.</p><p><br /></p><p>Kashmir is a mountainous region at the northern end of the Indian subcontinent.&nbsp; In ancient times it was an important center for Hindu and Buddhist thought.&nbsp; Its position means that it has been part of many different empires over time, including the Mughal, Sikh, and Afghan Durrani, as well as periods of independence.&nbsp; The territory is currently divided between India, Pakistan, and China, and the situation is often tense.&nbsp; The area was conquered by the Hephthalite king Mihiragula c.515-530 AD and passed to his successor Toramana II (c.530-560 AD).&nbsp; The successors of Toramana copied his coinage for several centuries, and this coin is part of that series.&nbsp; While the names of most of these kings, and approximate reign dates, are known, there is no way to link this coin to a specific king, so there is no point in going into detail.&nbsp; Besides, it wasn&#039;t the history that attracted me to this coin, but rather the unusual artistic rendering on the obverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>Specifically, look closely at the right hand of the king.&nbsp; That is one bizarre-looking, huge claw-like appendage.&nbsp; If you saw someone with a hand like that, you&#039;d probably run.&nbsp; From photos I found of other examples of this type, that giant claw is not a standard feature of the design but seems to be just how one particular engraver interpreted the design.&nbsp; Even though it is not closely related to my main collecting areas, I just had to have this coin as soon as I saw it.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>And, on a completely silly note, there is a 1950s sci-fi monster movie called &quot;The Giant Claw&quot;.&nbsp; It has nothing to do with Kashmir, but if you like 1950s sci-fi you might want to check it out:</p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]JFFdqKw9KcI[/MEDIA] </p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your coins of Kashmir, or coins featuring bizarrely exaggerated body parts.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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