2026-10-14 Wed

The coinage of medieval Maharashtra offers fascinating glimpses into the region’s political history, artistic traditions, and religious beliefs. Among its most intriguing examples is an exceedingly rare, uninscribed silver dramma, weighing 1.07 grams, attributed to the early Rashtrakutas. Distinguished by a three-quarter-profile male bust on the obverse and an image of Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth, on the reverse, this unusual coin represents a remarkable blend of portraiture and religious symbolism.

The Rashtrakutas emerged as an influential ruling dynasty in the Deccan and eventually established a powerful empire that flourished particularly between the 8th and 10th centuries CE. Before their rise to imperial prominence, early branches of the dynasty were associated with regions of Maharashtra and neighbouring areas.

North Maharashtra and the Khandesh region are particularly significant in this context, as unusual silver coins attributed to the early Rashtrakutas have been discovered there. Some scholars have suggested that these areas formed part of the dynasty’s early homeland. Its first capital, known as Mayurakhindi, has tentatively been identified with Markanda Fort in the Satmala range of north-western Maharashtra. This identification, however, remains provisional.

The obverse features a distinctive three-quarter-profile bust of a man with a prominent moustache and a characteristic warrior hairstyle. The unusual angle of the portrait gives the coin a striking appearance, setting it apart from many contemporary issues that employed more conventional profile representations. Although the figure may represent a ruler, his identity remains uncertain because the coin bears no inscription.

The reverse depicts Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth and prosperity, seated facing forward on a lotus. His prominent potbelly is a characteristic feature of his iconography, symbolising abundance and material well-being. Two female attendants flank the deity, although only one is clearly visible on this specimen.

The inclusion of Kubera is particularly noteworthy. His presence connects the coin with a wider Indian tradition of representing divine figures associated with wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. The lotus beneath the deity further enhances the religious character of the composition.

What makes this silver dramma exceptional is the combination of an unusual male portrait and a carefully arranged depiction of Kubera with attendants. Its uninscribed nature presents a challenge for attribution, making its style, iconography, weight, and geographical distribution important clues for researchers.

Weighing just 1.07 grams, this small silver piece preserves a remarkable amount of artistic and historical information. Its exceedingly rare status makes it a particularly valuable object of interest for collectors and students of early medieval Indian numismatics.