2018-05-18 Fri

The Western Kshatrapas ruled over the central and western parts of India. They are known to be from two different dynasties called Kshaharatas and Kardamak. They had ruled the largest kingdom in western India. They ruled for about 350 years with nearly around 27 independent rulers.

They were Saka rulers of present-day states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. They ruled alongside the Satavahanas in the south, Guptas to the east, and the Kushanas to the north. In the second to the fourth century CE, Ujjain was their centre. Western Kshtrapas was founded by king Chastana in the year 78 AD in a region around Malwa.

This copper coin was issued by the Western Kshatrapas ruler Chastana weighs around 1.06g. On the obverse, the coin depicts the image of ‘Three-Arched hill with a crescent above’. The reverse of the coin depicts the image of ‘crescent and sun’.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auction