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1 Stater - Kairvatas of Varendra Debased Samatata Type
| Issuer | Varendra Kingdom (Indian states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 640-730 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Stater/Dinar (1) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Standing royal archer figure depicted in frontal pose, holding a bow in the left hand with a flaming standard or fire-altar rising above the figure's head. The effigy is rendered in a highly schematized and degraded style characteristic of late Samatata coinage. Subsidiary symbols and corrupted Brahmi legends occupy the surrounding field, arranged in a circular fashion. The overall design reflects a debased imitation of earlier Gupta-derived prototypes, with progressive stylization reducing iconographic detail to near-abstract forms. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Stylized female deity, likely a goddess figure, depicted in frontal stance wearing a flowing cloak or garment, rendered in the highly degenerate iconographic tradition of the late Samatata series. The figure's form is reduced to schematic linear elements, consistent with the progressive artistic degradation observed in this coin series. Partially legible Brahmi legends are distributed around the field, though heavily corrupted and largely illegible due to the advanced debasement of the type. Subsidiary symbols occupy the remaining field spaces. |
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| Additional information |
The Samatata type staters issued from the Bengal delta region during this period reflect a monetary system under sustained pressure — successive dynasties debasing their gold issues as political control fragmented across the Ganges-Brahmaputra plain. Kairvatas of Varendra likely represents a local ruling line asserting independence in the aftermath of Harsha's empire collapsing after 647 AD, with coinage serving as the most visible declaration of that autonomy.
The Mitchell reference as a "cf." rather than a direct attribution signals how poorly documented this specific ruler remains — attribution rests on typological comparison rather than firm epigraphic or textual corroboration.