2026-06-09 Tue

Bhanumitra was a king of North Panchala centered at Ahichhatra, in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. He ruled around the early 1st century CE . He belonged to the post-Mauryan dynasty of Panchala rulers.

After the Mauryan Empire's decline, North Panchala Ahichhatra region became an independent kingdom issuing its own coins. Bhanumitra was one of the prominent rulers in this series, alongside kings like Agnimitra, Suryamitra, and others. The kingdom maintained local autonomy in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab.

All the coins issued by Panchals are round, made of a copper alloy and have a unique set pattern on the obverse - a deeply incised square punch. This big punch was consisting of a row of three symbols and the ruler's name placed in a single line below them. The reverse was more interesting at it bears depictions of the deities or sometimes of their attributes, whose names form a component of the issuers' names (for example, coins of Agnimitra bear the depiction of Agni). Here it is Bhanu that is Surya on Bhanumitra's coin.

The obverse has three Panchala symbols, Brahmi legend “Bhanumitasa” below within a big incused square punch while the reverse depicts Bhanu (sun) on a railing, with rays radiating.