2016-09-30 Fri

Vishnukundin Empire rose to power in Deccan region after the decline of Satavahana in 5th century A.D. They ruled from Vinukonda of Andhra controlling areas in Deccan, Orrisa and parts of South India .The scions of Vishnukundins were probably governed under the suzerainty of Pallavas. The most powerful king of Vishnukundin was Madhavavarman I.

Vishnukundins had a unique method of minting coins unlike their predecessor. First, the circular coin flan was produced by the casting process and later, the designs and symbols were die- struck on the coin.

The designs and motifs on the coins of Vishnukundins might have been inspired by Satavahana coinage. The earliest of Vishnukundin coins feature the humped bull. The majority of the Vishnukundin coins, however, portray a lion standing right with a twisted and uplifted tail and an open mouth. The lion was the dynastic emblem of the Vishnukundins.

The characteristic lion type Vishnukundin coins influenced many other contemporary coinage of central and western Deccan. The Chulukya king Pulakesin II copied ‘lion/conch between lamp’ type coin and added his title ‘sri satya’ in Brahmi script.

If only copyright laws existed back then!