{"product_id":"rare-nahapana-silver-drachm-western-kshatrapas-kardamaka-dynasty-arrow-thunderbolt-c-119-124-ce","title":"Rare Nahapana Silver Drachm – Western Kshatrapas – Kardamaka Dynasty – Arrow \u0026 Thunderbolt – c. 119–124 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient India – Western Kshatrapas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNahapana | Silver Drachm | Bust, Arrow \u0026amp; Thunderbolt Type | 2.04 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA historically important \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esilver drachm of Nahapana\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of the most prominent rulers of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWestern Kshatrapas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and a powerful figure in the history of western India during the early centuries of the Common Era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBelonging to the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKardamaka family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, this coin is particularly interesting for its combination of a royal portrait, multilingual legends and distinctive \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003earrow-and-thunderbolt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e reverse design.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe obverse features a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebust of King Nahapana facing right\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rendered in the characteristic portrait style of Western Kshatrapa coinage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurrounding the portrait is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eblundered Greek-style legend\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, reflecting the strong influence of earlier Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian monetary traditions on the coinage of western India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse features two distinctive symbols:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArrow pointing downward to the left\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThunderbolt pointing to the right\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003edot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e between the two symbols\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurrounding the design is the ruler’s titulature in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrahmi and Kharoshthi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Rano \/ Rajno Ksaharatasa Nahapanasa”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis identifies Nahapana as the ruler of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKshaharata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e line.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe combination of multiple scripts on the same coin is an especially important feature, reflecting the multilingual cultural environment of western India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCoin Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Western India\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDynasty:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Western Kshatrapas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFamily:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Kardamaka \/ Kshaharata tradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRuler:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Nahapana\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e c. 119–124 CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCentury:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2nd Century CE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Silver Drachm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetal:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Silver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2.04 g\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiameter:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 16.13 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Bust of Nahapana facing right; blundered Greek legend\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Downward-pointing arrow and thunderbolt with central dot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLegends:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Brahmi \u0026amp; Kharoshthi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLegend:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “Rano \/ Rajno Ksaharatasa Nahapanasa”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReference:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e A. M. Fishman #3.4(2)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWestern Kshatrapas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e were an important political power in western India, controlling major commercial regions and trade routes across areas of present-day \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNahapana\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was among the most powerful rulers of the Kshaharata line. His extensive coinage circulated across western India during a period when the region was deeply connected to long-distance trade networks linking the Indian subcontinent with the Roman world and other parts of Asia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis silver drachms are particularly important because they preserve a fascinating combination of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreek-influenced portraiture, Indian scripts and regional symbols\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMultilingual Heritage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the most interesting aspects of this coin is its use of different writing traditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGreek-style legend\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e surrounding the portrait reflects the continued influence of Hellenistic numismatic conventions, while the reverse incorporates both \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrahmi and Kharoshthi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, two major scripts of ancient South Asia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis combination makes Nahapana’s coinage a fascinating reflection of the multicultural environment of ancient western India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Appeal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn excellent addition to collections specialising in:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNahapana Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWestern Kshatrapa Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKshaharata Dynasty\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKardamaka Family\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Indian Silver Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWestern Indian Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMultilingual Ancient Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrahmi \u0026amp; Kharoshthi Script Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIndo-Scythian \/ Kshatrapa Coinage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2nd Century CE Indian Coins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge of Coin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1,900 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA highly collectible \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003esilver drachm of Nahapana\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, combining a distinctive royal portrait, Greek-influenced legend, Brahmi and Kharoshthi inscriptions, and the characteristic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003earrow-and-thunderbolt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e reverse — a remarkable example of the multicultural coinage of ancient western India.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gupta Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48472322736340,"sku":"A00021","price":4999.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0840\/5028\/0660\/files\/Picsart_26-08-09_20-07-07-020-Photoroom_1.jpg?v=1786618065","url":"https:\/\/guptacoins.com\/products\/rare-nahapana-silver-drachm-western-kshatrapas-kardamaka-dynasty-arrow-thunderbolt-c-119-124-ce","provider":"Gupta Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}