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Lead Coinage of Satavahana and other Ancient Indian Rulers

2026-06-04 Thu

One important aspect of ancient Indian coinage is abundance of lead coinage. Most of the lead coins were minted during the rules of Satavahana, Western Kshatrapas, later Satavahanas, Hiranyakas, Chutus, Kuras, Maharathis etc and somewhat during Gupta period.

Interestingly there have been lead jewelry too made during the period of approx 200 years.

The above coin has an incomplete legend starting with Vasithiputasa... (siri Satakanisa) around trikuta parvat (three arched hill) and a river below on obverse.

The reverse typically depicts the Ujjaini symbol - some archaelogists/historians call it chatur udadhi symbol that symbolizes four seas!