2018-05-17 Thu

The Sunga dynasty was an ancient Indian dynasty. It was established in the year 185 BCE, about 50 years after the death of Asoka. After the death of Ashoka, when the Mauryan Empire was ruled by Brihadratha Maurya, he was assassinated by the Commander-in-Chief of Mauryan armed forces, ‘Pusyamitra Sunga’. After assassinating the Mauryan Empire he founded Sunga dynasty in the in the year 185 BCE.

The centre of Sunga Dynasty was Magadha and its territories extended to the Malwa in Central India. The Sunga dynasty had controlled the areas of Central and Ancient Indian Subcontinent. The capital of this dynasty was at Pataliputra (present day Patna).

This copper coin was issued during Sunga dynasty period. The obverse of this coin depicts the image of ‘Elephant to left in front of Indra Dhvaja’ and the reverse of this coin depicts ‘Tree in the railing, hollow cross, three arched hill’.

Image Courtesy: Oswal Auction