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Drachm
| Issuer | Western Satraps |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central device depicting a three-arched hill or chaitya symbol (a stylized representation of a Buddhist chaitya or stupa) surmounted by a crescent and flanked by dotted ornaments, all within a circular arrangement of Brahmi and Kharoshthi legends. The inscriptions encircle the central symbol and record the ruler's name and titles. The design follows the standard reverse type of Western Satrap drachms, derived ultimately from the coinage of the Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian traditions. The flan is irregular and the strike slightly off-center, consistent with hand-struck production. |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Western Satraps, Indo-Scythian rulers governing northwestern India from roughly the 1st through 4th centuries AD, maintained an extraordinarily persistent coinage tradition long after their political authority had eroded. Their silver drachms were struck in enormous quantities, and the dynasty's later rulers — particularly Rudrasimha III, deposed by Chandragupta II around 395 AD — presided over issues of visibly declining silver fineness as the dynasty collapsed under Gupta pressure.
At 2.11g, this piece falls slightly below the dynasty's earlier weight standard, a drift that becomes more pronounced across later reigns.