Indian Antiquary Vol 48

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 125

JULY, 1919]
NUMISMATIC NOTES
121
Now on the authority of Justin, it is known that there were two kings of that name (1) a Persian noble appointed as Satrap of Parthia by Alexander the Great and (2) a Satrap of Parthia overthrown eighty years later by the first Arsaces. Prof. Gardner thought it probable that the two coins in the British Museum belonged to the second of these rulers. The present coin, in my opinion, may safely be assigned to the first, as the occurrence of Alexander the Great's head on the obverso suggests that Andragoras must have at first held the dominions in his charge, as Governor, for the great Macedonian conqueror; exactly in the same way as Ptoleny, holding Egypt in Alexander's name, struck money with the same device as on this coin. The shape of the coin is rather unusual, and perhaps furnistes another proof of its great antiquity.
This coin was originally collected in the Punjab, and is now in the cabinet of the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay.
Western Kshatrapa. (2) Rectangular copper coin of Jayadaman:
Size :.jx.4. Obv: Humped bull to r. facing combined trident and battleaxe, within circular
border of dots; Greek (?) legend above: SLTON (perhaps a corruption of
SAHPOS). Below: 1. A. Rev: Chaily of 10 arches; to l. crescent; to r. dise of the sun: border of dots;
Brahmi legend, rejur kshatrapa(sa Svámi Ja)yadámusa. This coin, together with Nos. 4 and 5, was found by Mr. Bhandarkar at Hathab, the ancient Ashtavapra, in the Bhavnagar State, Kathiawar. The type is different from the one described by Prof. Rapson A. & W. R. Cat. coins No. 265 to 268). The legend on the obverse is different, though equally unintelligible. The obverse die in the present coin has been impressed parallel to the sides, while in the other coins, it was impressed diagonally. The chaitya of 10 arches on the reverse is not known from any other Kshatrapa coins, and must have toen imitated from Andhra coinage. (3) Rectangular copper coin of Rudradâman I:
Size: .5 x .45. Obv: Elephant standing I. within circular dotted border, only partially preserved. Rov: Chaitya of 3 arches, with crescent above; to I. disc of the sun, to r. crescent; Brâhmi legend around
ma [halkshatrapasa sunt .,. . This coin, lately acquired for the Watson Museum of Antiquities, Rajkot, can be attri. buted almost with certainty to Rodrada man I as it was only this Kshatrapa that called bimself Mahakshatrapa' and 'Svâmi' on his coins. Together with the next two coins, it brings to light, for the first time, the copper currency of the mighty Satrap Rudracâman I. It is just probable that the copper coinage of this Satrap was issued only in small quantities in the earlier part of his reign and was soon discontinued altogether. (4) Rectangular copper coin of Rudradâman I:
Size: .5 .45; wt. 20 grs. Obv: Elephant standing. Rev: Chaitya of three arches with crescent above; rayed sun to r, and crescent
to l., wavy line below. Brâhmi legend within dotted border:
Rajño Mahakshatrapasa [S]ulami) (Rudradama]s.