Rashtrakutas – Govinda III (793-814
AD)
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king mounted on a horse, riding to left, with a curved sword held in raised hand; pseudo- Arabic inscription around. |
As on obverse, pseudo- Arabic inscription along the margins; in centre, two line inscription in proto Nagari/ Kutila script - Shri JagatungaAprati / hataShataGarudadhwaja Above the inscription, a row of Vaishnavite and auspicious symbols (lotus, Kalasha and Sankha) and below the inscription, a half lotus pedestal supporting the legend. |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
4.18 |
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Actual
Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Gold |
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AU Unit |
ClassNG, 31, 81 |
Jagatunga' or 'Tallest (by fame/valour) in the World was a title held by more than one Rashtrakuta rulers. However, Govinda III appears to be the best fit for the purpose of attributing this coin. He was an illustrious king, credited with many victories, including those against the Pratiharas of Kannauj, the Palas of Bengal, the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and the Pallavas of Kanchi. The title 'Apratihata' or 'invincible’ applied to him in the coin legend is therefore a very fitting acknowledgement of his triumphs. Another significant characteristic of the coin is the pseudo- Arabic inscriptions on both sides. It is a well-known fact that the Rashtrakutas were friendly with the Islamic Caliphate of Baghdad. The backbone of their friendship was a thriving trade in horses carried out from ports on the Western Coast of India, which was under Rashtrakuta control. These horses proved crucial in the campaigns which the Rashtrakutas conducted against other ruling powers. There were even Arab colonies on the Western Coast and some Arabs had also entered Rashtrakuta service, as we know from copperplate inscriptions. Conceivably, many Arab gold coins must have arrived through the trade into India and they appear to have provided the design inspiration for Rashtrakuta gold coins. The reign of Govinda III fits well with the heyday of this trade and the fact that he chooses to show him as a horse rider also befits the nexus established between the Arabs and the Rashtrakutas through commercial activities. The mention of 'Garuda-dhwaja' or 'Ensign of the Garuda' in the legend refers to the dynastic emblem of the Rashtrakutas, who were Vaishnavites and employed Garuda the bearer of Vishnu to show their devotion to their patron deity. |
RRR |
Rashtrakutas – Uninscribed Gold Coin
of Horseman Type, (800-900 AD)
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King riding a horse, facing to right. |
Frontally seated image of Abhisheka Lakshmi - goddess seated on a lotus flower in centre being anointed by two elephants on either side. |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
4.17 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Gold |
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AU Unit |
ClassNG, 38,246 |
Although the coin is uninscribed, its attribution to the Rashtrakutas is certain as evident from the choice and comparison of the motifs to other Rashtrakuta coins, and with contemporary visual art. Most likely the rulers to have issued the coins are likely to be Govinda III (793-814AD), Amoghavarsha (814-878AD) or Krishna II (878-914AD). The Rashtrakutas established trade links with the Arabs and greatly patronized the trade in horses. The access to the Western coast gave them direct control over these connections and made their army more powerful than their rivals like the Pratiharas. The depiction of a horse-riding king is very significant in this respect. |
RRR- |
Rashtrakutas – King Krishna II, Shri
Shubhtunga, (AD 878 to 914)
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Garuda Seated on Lotus |
Nagri Inscription Shri Shubhtunga and below a Conch Shell |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
4 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Gold |
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AU Unit |
ClassNG, 2, 38 |
See the Article of Dr. Shailendra Bhandare. Published in the
Souvenir of Mumbai Coin Society - 2010 |
RRR |
Rashtrakutas – Elephant
Rider/Legend – Amoghavarsha
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Elephant with rider
marching to right |
Proto-Nagari legend
in two lines Shri Amo(gha)/varisha
with letter ri engraved retrograde |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
0.51 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Silver |
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AR Unit |
ClassNG, 38, 247 |
Amoghavarsha was one of the
great rulers of Rashtrakuta dynasty. He waged
successful campaigns against rebellious feudatories and consolidated Rashtrakuta rule against the Ganga, Eastern Chalukya and Pallava kings. He
was a devotee of Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur but also a great patron of Jainism. |
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Rashtrakutas – Elephant
Rider/Garuda – Amoghavarsha I
, (814–878 AD)
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Elephant rider with
crescent above. |
Garuda seated on
lotus, with extended legend Shrimad Amoghavarsha
around |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
0.44 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Silver |
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AR Unit |
Zeno 255049 posted by Lingen from Vishal Parikh |
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Rashtrakutas – Boar/Legend
– Shubhatunga (8 Century CE)
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an upright boar facing
left, a crescent with a dot above, lotus below, a linear border surrounded by
dots around the field |
Brahmi legend Shri
Shura/tunga in two lines |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
0.32 |
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Actual
Diameter (mm) |
8.3 |
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Composition |
Silver |
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AR Unit |
Marudhar, 35, 102 |
Fishman&Todd. # RA7.3 |
RR |
Rashtrakutas – Boar/Horse
Rider – Unattributed
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Boar to right,
legend around:Shri
Raja(...) |
Horse-rider |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
0.49 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Silver |
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AR Unit |
Zeno 225678 posted by Lingen from Kishor
Mehta (USA) |
Typologically attributed to the Rastrakuta
dynasty, no references found so far |
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Rashtrakutas – Attributed to Krishna I (c.760-775)
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Garuda standing facing |
Swastika in centre, Brahmi legend Akalavarsha around. Krishna I was also known as Akalavarsha |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
2.35 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Copper |
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AE Unit |
Zeno 227317 posted by Lingen from Vishal B
Jain |
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Rashtrakutas – Gunatunga
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Garuda standing front facing |
Brahmi legend:Shri Gunatunga |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
3.35 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Copper |
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AE Unit |
Zeno 227314 posted by Lingen from Vishal B
Jain |
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Rashtrakutas – Garuda
& Shell – Unattributed
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Garuda seated front facing |
Shanka shell, uncertain letter / object to r. |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
3.18 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Copper |
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AE Unit |
Zeno 227315 posted by Lingen from Vishal B
Jain |
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Rashtrakutas – Vikramavaloka (Govinda II), Garuda
/ Brahmi legend
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Garuda seated facing |
Brahmi legend Shri Vikramavaloka |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
2.73g |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Copper |
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AE Unit |
Zeno 227316, posted by Lingen |
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Rashtrakutas – Garuda/Legend
– Unattributed
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Stylized representation
of Garuda standing holding two snakes in hands |
Brahmi legend Shri ...yalano?. |
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Actual
Weight (g) |
1.11 |
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Diameter (mm) |
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Composition |
Copper |
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AE Unit |
ClassNG, 42, 263 |
Attribution to Rashtrakutas preliminary |
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Rashtrakutas –
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Copper |
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