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1 Silver Unit - Sri Ksetra Kingdom
| Issuer | Sri Ksetra Kingdom (Pyu city-states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 700-850 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse depicts a prominent rising sun or shrine motif rendered as a trapezoidal structure filled with a grid of raised pellets arranged in rows, representing a srivatsa-related auspicious symbol or stupa facade. Two rearing or confronted serpentine creatures (makaras or nagas) flank the central device at the upper left and right, their bodies curving outward. The lower field features a wavy line border suggestive of water or waves, a common element in Pyu iconography linking the design to cosmological symbolism. Small foliate or flame motifs appear at the upper corners. The overall composition reflects the deeply Buddhist and Hindu-influenced artistic tradition of the Pyu city-states. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Sri Ksetra, near modern Pyay in central Burma, was among the most sophisticated of the Pyu city-states and maintained active trade networks stretching from India to the Tang Dynasty court. These silver units functioned within a Buddhist commercial economy that Chinese Tang sources — particularly the Xin Tangshu — actually documented in some detail, noting the Pyu's use of silver coinage and their comparatively organized urban life. The kingdom was effectively destroyed by the Nanzhao raids of the 830s, which curtailed Pyu coinage abruptly and accounts for the relatively tight terminal date on this series.