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Copper Alloy Unit of the Vishnukundin Dynasty

2020-02-27 Thu

The Vishnukundin was the Indian imperial dynasty that came into power in the Deccan region after the decline of the Satavahana Empire in 5th Century CE. In Sanskrit, the word Vishnukundina is named for Vinukonda. The Vinkonda were the early ruling dynasties which were migrated to the west in search of employment and during the reign of Vakataka they might have attained feudatory status. This dynasty had controlled the part of Deccan, Odisha and the part of Southern India during the 5th and 6th AD.

First, the Vishnykundin dynasty issued coins by using the casting process and later the designs and symbols were die-struck on the coin. The coinage of Vishnukundin was inspired by Satavahana. Coins issued by them before depicting a humped bull. Later; most of the coins issued by them depict a lion standing right with a twisted and uplifted tail and an open mouth. The lion was the dynastic emblem of the Vishnukundins.

This copper base alloy unit which weighs around 8.05g was issued by Vishnukundin Dynasty. The obverse of this coin depicts a standing lion facing the right with an upraised paw. The reverse of this coin depicts a conch shell between two tridents.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auction