-40%
Rare silver drachm, early Hindu Shahi of Gandhara, Northern India, ca.650-800 AD

Rare silver drachm, early Hindu Shahi of Gandhara, Northern India, ca.650-800 AD

$ 32.18

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted

    Description

    Four dots and various lines, probably representing the extreme degeneration of a bust of a horse, Brahmi letters "Ha" and "Ka" / Blank. 16mm, 1.28 grams. Fishman/Todd "The Silver Damma" #GA5; JONS 201, Fishman type 5A.
    The second letter is probably the initial of the moneyer who made these coins, while the meaning of the first letter Ha (which appears on almost all types of these "4-dot" coins) is unknown. These coins were previously attributed to pre-Islamic Sindh, but they are not re-attributed to the Northern Punjab and the surrounding area, and were probably minted in the domain of the early Hindu Shahi since the areas where these coins are found was directly controlled by the Shahi dynasty at the relevant time. These coins were probably made obsolete when the Shahi moved their capital was moved to Kabul and began striking the famous horseman/ bull silver drachms which became ubiquitous in northern India.