2024-08-14 Wed

The Hindu-Shahi dynasty was the first to issue bull and horseman-type coins, probably introduced by Spalapatideva. These silver and copper coins depicted a sitting bull on one side and a horse rider holding a long lance on the other.

The coinage of Samantadeva, in the form of the Bull and the Horseman, was more common in Punjab and had some overlap in the Gandhara region. Samantadeva issued this silver drachm weighs between 3.0 and 3.4 g. The obverse features Bull seated facing left, Sharada legend “Sri Samantadeva”. The reverse features King to right riding horse.

Image Courtesy: Oswal Auction