Indo-Greek Coins
Lachori Hoard
Bhuri Singh Museum Collection
Unattributed
Coins From Chamba
Numismatic
History of Chamba
Indo-Greek Coins Sarol Hoard
Chakli of
Chamba
Indo Sassanian coins
Coins of
Later Rulers of Kashmir
Numismatic history of Chamba is not only important to find its History but also to fill the dark periods of Brahampur and Champakpur Kingdom of Western Himalaya and its historical facts. No attention was made prior to this attempt to correlate the History with numismatic evidence because of the reason that no attempt was made to collect ancient coins or gather any kind of information about them. The Bhuri Singh Museum established in the year 1908 AD also remained indifferent towards numismatics till 1968 AD. However, thereafter, some efforts for the numismatic collection were started. Many people of Chamba found hoard of coins (Maya) but consumed the same by selling it in the market and mostly the ancient coins being made up of silver and gold was utilized for ornaments. The Silver was most popular metal and was found in abundance throughout the boundaries of Brahampur /Champakpur/ Champa Kingdom and Chamba State. In a folk song a line depicts that
“Batne ra gum mat kare Chanchlo Chambe Chaandi Bateree ho……”
( Do not worry about the Buttons Chanchlo, there is a lot of silver in Chamba.) The numismatic collection of Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba and Himachal State Museum Shimla is not very large. If effort to collect the ancient coin is made, a number of ancient coins either lying in private collections or beneath the earth could be found. My efforts are based on Mr. Parmeshwari lal Gupta’s work in his solitary book of numismatic history of Himachal Pradesh and the catalogue of coins in Himachal State Museum, Shimla and Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba. But despite this great work , two of the Chamba found acquired by the Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba have remained unattributed, unclassified assorted coins till this date.
In numismatic History of Chamba Indo-Greek coins of 1st & 2nd Century BC finds a special mention being the largest hoards in Himachal Pradesh. These coins have been discovered in good number of quantity at two places of Lachori and Sarol of Champakpur Kingdom and District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh.
In a road cutting on the Chaura-Sundla Road, near the village Lachori in Pargna Jundh of District Chamba H.P. a thin metal pot was discovered containing a hoard of Indo-Greek hemidrachms. Which was part of Basolhi state during ancient time with its capital at Ballor (Skr.Vallapura) and ancient rout that passes through the mountains and enters into the Kashmir. Vallapura is several time referred to in the Rajtarangini by Kalhana in the 11th Century and its Rajas were then subject of Kashmir. In the course of the cutting the pot was broken and the coins were shoveled off in the nearby stream called Salindra, which falls into the river Siul a tributory of river Ravi. One of the Laborers collected 32 of these coins and sold them. The buyer of these coins presented 15 coins to the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba in 1971. The whereabouts of remaining 17 coins are not known. The site where the coins were discovered was later on part of Churah Wizarat of Champakpur Kingdom in Jundh Mandala (Pargna).
A farmer in his field in the Village Sarol discovered another hoard of Indo-Greek himdrachms in 1974. Which is at about two m Kilometers from the Champakpur (Chamba Town) which was under the control of a Rana of Bannu prior to the accession of the area under Brahampur and Champa Kingdom. The hoard contained 17 coins and the entire hoard was acquired by the state Museum Shimla.
The hoard of Lachori contained the coins of the periods of MENANDER, ANTIMACHUS-II & APPOLODOTUS and the hoard of Sarol comprised of coins of MENANDER, ANTIMACHUS-II & ANTIALKIDAS period. The presence of Indo-Greeks in Chamba could not be denied with this material and substantial evidence at two places and one being in the heart of Chamba at Sarol. Though the sole presence of coins could not establish their presence but the other evidence of reference in Rajtarangini according to which Jaluka, the son of Ashoka, who had taken the possession of Kashmir, had crushed a horde of Malechhas. Malechhas is a word attributed to the foreigners and since no foreign people other than the Graceo-Bactrians are known to have entered any part of India at this time, it would not be unreasonable to infer that Kalhana meant only this Graceo-Bactrians. The passing away of the mighty emperor Ashoka was perhaps the signal for the disintegration of the extensive Mauryan Empire. His successors could not have a strong hold over the distant provinces. Taking advantage of the political conditions at that time the Graceo-Bactrians invaded and occupied the outlying southwestern provinces of the empire including the area of Champakpur.
MENANDER (Circa 155-130 BC), the earliest of all the Indo-Greek rulers coin was the most famous among the Indo-Greek Rulers and he is the only one who survives in the Indian traditions. He is identified with King Milinda, who is one of the two leading characters in the Milindapanha, the famous Budhist text written in the form of a discussion between the king Milinda and the Budhist monk Nagasena. It is said that the monk satisfactorily answered all the questions put to him by the King and he succeeded in converting the latter to Buddhisim. Minander is also mentioned in Kshemendera’s A vadana-kalpa-lata and the Tibetan Bustan-hgur as Milindra. He is mentioned as Menandra in the Shinkot inscription. And this later form of the name is found on his coins in Kharoshthi. A hoard of coin was found in Kangra in 1857 AD in Kangra District along with silver coins of Indo-Greek rulers of MENANDER, ANTIMACHUS-II, ANTIALKIDAS, PHILOXENUS & LYSIAS.
We find mention of the existence of a Buddhist Monastery through two-boulder inscription dating from Second century A. D. in the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts at Kanihara one time part of Brahampur Kingdom and thereafter Kangra. According to Mr.E.C.Bayley in inscriptions read-
(1) Krihsnayasasa drama and
(2) Krishnayasasa drama Medangisya.
Dr.J.Ph.Vogel, considers the name to be possibly a corruption of Krishanvihara, and that the inscription, cut on two massive granite blocks in the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts, would appear to prove the existence of a Buddhist monastery (arama) at this place in 2nd Century A.D.
In Pathiar one time part of Brahampur and Champa Kingdom two inscriptions of primitive type cut in both Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts, in letters of remarkable size recording the dedication of a garden and tank, probably in the 3rd Century B.C. has been founded here.
Pathiar is now in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. Headless sand stone sculpture of Lord Budha, sitting in Bhumisparsh mudra on a double petal lotus throne of 8th Century was also found near Lakhamandal Pathyar in the year 1987 AD. This supports the fact that the Menandar Indo-Greek ruler occupied these areas and their presence continued for a longer time till the rule of LYSIAS. Menander was called as King of Bactria. The history of Indo-Greeks after Menander is far from clear. Antimacus-II (Circa 130-115 BC) is suggested was a sub king under the Menander. He outlived his master and declared himself independent. After Antimacus-II, three rulers-PHILOXENUS (125-115 B.C, LYSIAS (120-110 BC) & ANTIALKIDAS(115-110 BC) are known in this region by their coins in the Kangra & Sarol (Chamba) hoard. Among these rulers ANTIALKIDAS(115-110 BC) is known from a source outside of numismatics. An inscription incised on a pillar, which was originally a Garuda-Dhvaja erected at Besnagar, near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, mention his name. The Garuda-Dhvaja was erected by an inhabitant of Taxila, Heliodorus by name, who was the son of Dion. He had come as an envoy from Antialkidas to the court of King Bhagabhadra.
It is important to note that the silver coins of Kunindas, the Vemakas and the Audumbaras the tribal states of Western Himalaya region, closely follow the himidrachm of Apollodotus in their features, viz. Weight, size and fabric. This further fortifies the suggestion that Apollodotus was very close to these tribal states in time and they emerged in this region as the ruling power at the decline of Apollodotus and issued their coins in his follow in their own name. The word Malechha used for the Indo-Greeks, first foreigners in India comes down till this date in the whole area of Chamba for all the foreigners who invaded India thereafter and is still used as a abuse for a uncultured, uncivilized person.
INDO-GREEK COINS LACHORI HOARD
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No. Size Weight Obverse Reverse
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ANTIMACHUS
1. 1.9 2.4 Winged Nike to left with palm Rider(king?)on prancing
and fillet; Greek Legend horse to right; around
around BASILIOS Kharoshthi legend
NIKEPHOROY Monogram 2 Mahrajasa jayadharasa
`on left. Amtimakhasa.
2. 2.0 2.5 -----do-----Monogram 3. ------do--------
MENANDER
3. 1.8 2.5 Diademed bust of king to Pallas to left with aegis
right; Greek legend above on outstretched left arm
BASILIOS SOTOROS below hurling thunderbolt
MENANDROU. With right hand;
Kharoshti legend above
Maharaja tratarasa
Below Menandrasa.
4.
1.8 2.45
---do---
Monogram 15 in right field.
5. 1.9 2.45 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 6.
6. 1.9 2.45
---do---
---do---Monogram 20.
7. 1.8 2.45 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 9.
8. 2.0 2.0 Deamdemed bust of king to ---do---Monogram 13.
Right wearing a crested
Helmet.Greek legend as on
No.1
9. 1.8 2.45 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 22.
10. 1.9 2.45 Deamdemed bust of king to ---do---Monogram 10.
Left thrusting javelin with
Right hand.Greek legend as
On No.1.
11. 1.9 2.45 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 2.
12. 1.9 2.4 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 2.
13. 1.9 2.5 ---do--- ---do---Monogram 8.
APOLODOTUS
14. 1.8 2.45 Elephant moving to right Humped bull to right;
Greek legend left BASILIOS: Kharoshthi legend right
Top APOLLODOTOU; right Maharujasa, top
SOTOROS; Below Monogram Apaladatasa left
11. tradarasa
15. 1.8 2.4 ---do---Monogram 16 ---do---
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ANTIALKIDAS
1. 1.9 2.38 Diademed bust of king to Zeus seated left on
right; wearing crested helmet throne; long sceptre in
Greek legend Above left hand, which rests
BASILEOS NIKEPHORY. Over left shoulder; on
Below ANTIIALKIDOY. Outstretched right hand
He bears Nike holding
Palm and wreath; in left
Field an elephant
Walking to left; in right
Field monogram 12
Kharoshthi legend
Above Maharajasa
Jayadharasa; below
Amtialikitasa.
2. 1.9 1.46 ---do--- ---do---but the elephant
walking into right.
Monogram:19.
3. 1.9 2.38 ---do--- same as No.2
King wearing flat Kausia Monogram 20
4. 2.0 2.36 ---do--- Same as No.1
Monogram 17
5. 1.8 2.37 ---do--- Same as No.1 wreath
in upraised trunk of
the elephant.
Monogram 21.
ANTIMACHUS
6. 1.9 2.385 Winged Nike to left with palm Rider(king?)on prancing
and fillet; Greek Legend horse to right; around
around BASILIOS Kharoshthi legend
NIKEPHOROY ANTIMAXOY Mahrajasa jayadharasa
Monogram 3 on left. Amtimakhasa.
7. 1.9 2.4 Same as No.6;Monogram 12 Same as No.6
MENANDER
8. 2.0 2.4 Diademed bust of king to Pallas to left with aegis
right; Greek legend above on outstretched left arm
BASILIOS SOTOROS below hurling thunderbolt
MENANDROU. With right hand;
Kharoshti legend above
Maharaja tratarasa
Below Menandrasa.
Monograms in right
Field 23; in left field 20.
9. 2.0 2.4 ---do--- ---do---
10. 1.9 2.405 ---do--- ---do---but monogram
20 only in right field.
11. 2.1 2.395 ---do--- ---do---
12. 1.8 2.385 ---do--- ---do---but monogram
in left field 4.
13. 1.9 3.43 ---do--- ---do---monogram 5.
14. 2.0 2.395 Disdemed but of k ing to ---do---monogram in
right wearing a crested right field 14.
helmet. Greek legend as on
No.8.
15. 1.8 2.38 ---do--- ---do---monogram 8.
16. 2.8 2.23 Diademed but of king to left ---do---monogram 11
thrusting javelin with right in right fiel; last word
hand. Greek legend as on of the legend off the
No.1. flan.
17. 2.1 2.37 ---do--- Pallas as above but to
right; monogram 18 in
the left field.
The only known coin of Chamba State is stated to be the copper Chakli which was issued in the times of Chadhat Singh (1808-1844 A.D.) They bear the following legends.
Obverse: Sri Chadhata Simhasya yam mudra (in Nagari letters) followed by a trident flanked by brackets on either side.
Reverse: Sri Lakshmi Nath Sahai (in Nagari letters) at the bottom trident flanked by brackets as on obverse. Probably Sam (in Nagari) on left and numerals in Persian script on right.
The coins are known in various forms from the legible legends. Thereby they suggest that these coins remained current and were issued from time to time even after the reign of Chadhat Singh. When these coins were issued first or when their minting was ceased is not known. After the revolt of 1857, the British Government thoroughly stopped the right of striking coins of all the local states and conceded it to only a few but Chamba was not amongst those. As such the official minting of the Chaklis must have ceased some time earlier or by 1872 A.D. The Chaklis with degraded superscription are the unauthorized issues, produced by the local people for their use. But my inquiry from the old people of Chamba has assail the fact that the coinage of Chakli was in use till merger of chamba state i.e. 1947 AD and Five Chaklis were equal to one British Anna.
BHURI SINGH MUSEUM CHAMBA COLLECTION
CHAKLI OF CHAMBA
Accession No. Metal Type Source
66.53-58 Copper 6 Chaklis of Chamba Chamba Town
51.9/24 Copper 14 Chaklis of Chamba MandiToshakhana
K19-29 Copper 11 Chaklis of Chamba Chamba Tre
SUR AND MUGHAL COINS
Accession No. Mint King Find Place Date
75.252-255 ------- Akbar Bharmour AH984 Round.
Square.
Udur Zafar
QuarinAlif Akbar Bharmour -----do---------
---Do-- ----do---- -----do----- ------do--------
Multan Shahjahan ------do---- 1044/8 Round
73.67 -68 Azamnagar Shah AlamII Chamba RY 1
Golak (Maratha)
Farukabad -do-(E.I.Co.) Chamba 45 Silver gilted
Copper.
-do- Sikh Chamba 1881.
UNATTRIBUTED COINS FROM CHAMBA
Two Silver coins of an unknown type, along with 44 Indo-Sassanian and 2 Kashmir coins of Karkotaka dynasty were found in 1968, at Chamba during the digging for the foundation of a Block for the Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Chamba by Mr.M.C. Vij a Contractor and are now in the Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba. It was old royal palce known as Rulagar. Which was gutted in the third major Fire mishap in 20th Century A.D., which took place in the year 1935 near Akhand Chandi Palace wherein Rulagar Palace was also destroyed. Where Mian Partap Singh the third son of Raja Gopal Singh was residing.
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No. Size Obverse Reverse
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66.88 Lion seated to left In the centre a solid circle
with tail upraised surrounded by a circle of
above throughout of dots; arround legend in
bold letters
Srimaddaddakedeva
-----do— -----do-------Srimaddadda.
I attribute these coins to reign of Raja Dodaka Varman 985-1004 A. D. The name described in the vanshavali is Dodgha but in Tur image inscription of Dodke (No.18 Text & Translation) From this inscription it is clear that Dodka was the successor and the son of Vidagdha whereas the latter was the son and successor of Yugakara Varman. This point is established by the Vidagdha Copper plate grant (No.15 Text & Translation of Antiquities of Chamba State Part-I by Dr.J.Ph.Vogel). These unattributed coins with a symbol of Sun a symbol of Chamba Suryavanshi Moshun Dynasty on the reverse of coin (In the centre a solid circle surrounded by a circle of dots around legend in bold letters Srimaddodakedeva) leads me to believe that this coin is to be attributed to King Dodaka Varman of Chamba Kingdom. These coins were found in digging of the foundation, where a Palace of Royal Family was existing prior to the fire mishap in the year 1935 A. D. and was probably in occupation of the Royal Family since Sahil Varmans time.
COINS OF LATER RULERS OF KASHMIR
A hoard of 320 copper coins of the later rulers of Kashmir was found in the Village Biddangi in the Chamba District and is now in the Chamba Museum (Accession No.79.1)
No. Size Weight Obverse Reverse
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KSHEMGUPTA ASSOCIATED WITH DIDDA
1. 2.2. 5.46 Seated goddess(crude) King standing (crude)
Without arms;Kshema under the left arm gupta
2. 2.1 5.31 -do- Di; Kshe(ma) -do- gupta
3. 2.0 5.26 -do- Di; Kshema -do-
4. 2.1 5.1 -do- Di; Kshema -do- (gu)
5. 1.9 5.4 -do- Di; Kshema -do- gupta
6. 2.1 5.15 -do- Di; Kshema -do- gupta
7. 2.1 5.13 -do- Di; Kehe(ma) -do- gupta
8. 2.0 5.35 -do- Di; Keshema -do- gupta
9. 1.9 5.74 -do- Di; Keshe(ma) -do-
ABHIMANYU GUPTA
10. 2.1 5.25 -do- A; Bhi (blurred) -do- gupta
11. 2.1 5.23 -do- A: Bhi -do- gu
TRIBHUVANA GUPTA
12. 2.0 5.38 -do- Tri; Bhuva -do- gu
BHIMAGUPTA
13. 2.0 5.22 -do- Bhi; ma -do- on right (gupta)
14. 2.0 5.48 -do- Bhi; ma (gu) -do- pta
DIDDA
15. 2.0 5.29 -do- Sri; Di(dda) -do- no lette
16. 2.0 5.26 -do- Sri; Di(dda) -do-
17. 2.0 5.29 -do- Sri; Di(-) -do-
18. 2.0 5.51 As before Sri; Didda as before
19. 2.0 5.53 -do- Sri; Di -do-
20. 2.1 5.27 -do- Sri; Di -do- on right De(va)
21. 2.1 5.37 -do- Sri; Di -do- De(va)
22. 2.0 5.2 -do- Sri; Di (dda) -do- (Deva)
23. 2.1 5.43 -do- Sri; Di (dda) -do- De (va)
24. 1.9 5.58 As above Sri Di As before (no letters)
25. 2.0 5.28 -do- Sri; Di -do- De
26. 2.1 5.73 -do- Sri; Di (dda) -do- Deva
27. 2.1 5.24 -do- Sri; Didda -do- (no letters)
28. 2.2 5.38 -do- Sri; Didda -do- (De)
29. 2.2 6.23 -do- Sri Di -do- De(va)
30. 2.1 5.25 -do- Sri Didda -do- De(va)
We are not aware of the discovery of any series of early coins in a substantial quantity in Brahmpur or Chamba State. It may however, be reasonably concluded that the coins current in the adjoining hilly tracts of Chamba State circulated in Chamba as well in ancient time.
Fairly large quantities of Yaudheya and Kuninda coins have been reported from Mandi District and Kangra District, Kartikeya was the tutelary deity of Yaudheya tribe.[And the name Kunet borne by a sizeable section of the local population has long been recognised as descended from Kuninda.It is therefore almost certain that these two series of coins were in currency in Chamba also. The same appears to have been true of Audumbara coins which have been reported in numbers from places in Kangra District and nearby Pathankot in Punjab.
The term darma most probably standing for drachma (later Sanskritsied into Dramma), is known to occur on the reverse of a variety of Yaudheya coins.
It is, no doubt true that the Luj foundation inscription of the first year (1105-1106 A.D.) of the reign of Jasata refers to grain worth twenty or thirty drammas. But the nature of these coins, which were in all probability of Silver, is not known though it is not unlikely that they were later imitation of other parts of north India. The inscriptions of Chamba contain the term hiranya in connection with dues payable to the state and term is generally taken in the sense of taxes payable in cash. This should also indicate the prevalence of some sort of coins in the area, but we have no means to ascertain their nature. Vincent A. Smith sought to attribute a rare debased silver coin of the bull and horseman type to King Asatavarman of Chamba (Late eleventh early twelfth century A.D.) who is known from inscriptions. He read the legend on the obverse of this coin as Asatapala. But the reading of the second letter actually seems to be sa, and unless we ignore the difference in the spelling of the kings name as found in his inscription and the coin in question its is difficult to be sure about its attribution to him. The name ending pala noticed on the coin is conspicuous by its absence in his own inscriptions, which refer to his as Asatdeva. The name dramma according to Dr.Bhandarkar signified only the coins in silver and it would thus appear that the coinage used in ancient Chamba was of silver. This also reflects the prosperous economic conditions prevailing in the Chamba State of twelfth century.
In early medieval period, some of the rulers of Chamba were vassals of the kings of Kashmir, and it is not unlikely that the coins of the latter were in circulation in the Chamba markets. From mid sixteenth century A.D. the State was successively under the Mughals, the Sikhs and the British, and the coins of these powers were naturally in circulation. The recent most coins of Chamba were the copper pieces popularly known as Chakli struck in the nineteenth century by Charaht Singh (1808-1844 A. D.), the rebel Lakar Shah of Basoli (1844) and Sri Singh (1844-1870) the son of Charhat Singh.
Karttikeya was the patron deity of the Yaudheyas and is, therefore, found represented on two classes of their coins sometimes six headed and sometimes single headed, the former on Allan’s Class 3 and the latter on his Class 6.
The inscription of Chamba contains the term hiranya in connection with dues payable to the state and the term is generally taken in the sense of taxes payable in cash. This should also indicate the prevalence of some sort of coins in the area, but we have no means to ascertain their nature. Vincent A. Smith sought to attribute a rare debased silver coin of the bull and horseman type to king Asatvarman of Chamba (later eleventh early twelfth century A.D.) who is known from inscriptions.
Soon after Raja Sri Singh Varman was seated there was in State service a Brahman, of Basohli, named Narain Shah, who, having been originally a timber contractor, went by the name of Lakar Shah. He was a relative of Pandit Jalla, who with Hira Singh, son of Dhian Singh of Jammu, at that time wielded supreme power in Lahore. This man seems to have acted an agent of the Sikh Government, and managed to acquire so much influence in Chamba that the whole state administration was virtually in his hands. In his time, and by his orders, a new issue of the Chamba Copper Coin was made, and is still called Lakar Shahi, after him. The state official resented his arrogance, and took counsel with mother of Raja Sri Singh who was a minor and Rani was a Katoch princess to have him put out of the way. Accordingly he was set upon one day, seized, bound and carried up the Saho Valley and over to Bailj, where he was killed. Bhaga Wazir and two of the State officials then went to Lahore to try to pacify Hira Singh and avert the consequences of their act; but Pandit Jalla had them cast into prison, and sent an army to invade Chamba. One Division came by Chun and Sandhara and on its approach the Tani took Sri Singh and fled up the Ravi Valley to Bassu. The capital was captured and looted by the Sikhs. Another Sikh for advanced by Nurpur, but the Chamba troops in Taragarh Fort kept at bay and prevented their coming farther than Jajari. The Ganeshgarh Fort was taken by a Sikh force from Kotila. Things were looking very dark for the State when news arrived of the assiassination of Hira Singh and Pandit Jalla by the soldiery in Lahore, on the 21st December, A.D. 1844; whereupon the invading armies at once withdrew. Wazir Bhaga and his companions were also set at liberty and returned to Chamba.
INDO SASSANIAN COINS
A hoard of billon (Alloy of gold or silver with a predominating amount of some base metal) stated to be Indo-Sassanian coins was discovered, in or about 1968-1969. This was discovered during the construction of a house in the village of Udaipur, four kilometers north of Chamba town situated on the bank of River Ravi. The exact contents of the hoard are not known. What is available is only the fact, the finder brought about hundred coins to the shop of a goldsmith at Chamba and he purchased them. Out of this lot, six selected coins were purchased for the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba (Accession No.69.73-78)
Another hoard that included 44 billon stated to be Indo-Sassanian coin Two Silver coins of an unknown type were found in 1968, at Chamba during the digging for the foundation of a Block for the Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Chamba by Mr.Mahesh Chand Vij. And are now in the Bhuri Singh Museum Chamba. (Accession No.68.49)
A lot of 557 silver coins were transferred from the Mandi Toshakhana to the Bhuri Singh Museum, chamba under the orders of the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. It consisted of many types of coins; amongst them are the four stated to be the Indo-Sassanian coins. No record is available about the finds of all these coins. (Accession No.51.8 (4-7).
A hoard of 101 Indo-sassanian coins was found in March,1873 AD at Dharamshala District Kangra.(Nine coins of this hoard were taken away by the District Officer in 1874; a few coins were sent to Lahore Museum. 82 coins were sent to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta. From there they were sent to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta. From there they were sent to mint for melting. According to the report, submitted to the Asiatic Society, the coins were similar to Fig.9 & 14 of Plate XXXIII of Prinsep's’Essays, Vol.I ( Proceedings, Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1891, p.83)
INDO-SASSANIAN COINS
No. Size Weight Obverse Reverse
1(69.73) Rudely executed head of Rudely executed fire-
Sassanian type with Alter showing an
Winged headgear; upright solid
Flames at soulder. Rectangular block
Surrounded by dots;
Two horizontal blocks
One above the other
Below; the upper one
Flanked by brackets;
On the left and right
Crude representation
Of attendants.
2(69.74) --do-- --do—
3(69.75) --do-- --do—
4(69.76) --do-- --do—
5(69.77) --do-- --do—
6(69.78) --do-- --do—
7(68.49/1) --do-- --do—
8(68.49/2) --do-- --do—
9(68.49/3) --do-- --do—
10(68.49/4) --do-- --do—
11(68.49/5) --do-- --do—
12(68.49/6) --do-- --do—
13(51.8/4) 1.8 2.8 --do-- --do—
14(51.8/6) 1.8 3.75 --do-- --do—
15(51.8/5) 1.6 3.65 An identifiable form. Va ra in bold Nagari
letters; below it marks
Reminiscence of the
Fire alter.
16(51.8/7) 1.7 3.75 Very crude head to Indication of Sassanian
right; in front Sri in fire alter with attendant
bold Nagari letters s; in centre a Nagari
below(vigra) letter sa (or ma)
I am inclined to assign these coins of Champakpur Kigdom issued firstly by King Sahil Varman as Chakli. The first coin of Champakpur Kingdom for the following reasons:
The popularity of the Indo-Sassanian coins in the region of Champakpur Kingdom and Chamba State is well evident from a number of hoards. The Indo-Sassanian coins and their degraded and degenerated types remained current in Chamba region ever after they had ceased to be produced. Then the Indo-Sassanian coins bearing the legend Sri Vigra filtered into this region. Those who are not conversant with the devices on these coins may, easily mistake a part of the letter Sra, seen on these coins, as a pierced ear. These coins had led the story about the origin of the Chakli coins that were current in chamba region till 1930s. According to the story, Sahil Varman originated these coins and placed on it a pierced ear, the symbol of a yogi in the honour of the Yogi Charpat Nath. It is not unlikely that the Indo Sassanian Coins were introduced into Chamba during his time.
The Gum Surya image, though in Gupta style and technique, has Sassanian costume and locks. Though this treatment of the hair was in vogue also with the later Guptas the Sassanian fashion differs from that of the Guptas. The latter was comparatively compact, and rather flat on the crown of the head. The Sassanian wore the curls high on the top, and loosely floating down over the shoulders.
The cult of Surya seems to have played quite and important role in olden times. The veneration of the sun as a prominent diety is generally regarded as Iranian (Mithra, Helios, Sol invictus) and has in India been connected with the Indo-Scythians. In any case the oldest images of Surya in Scythian dress, belong to the Kushana school of Mathura.The conception of Gum Surya image is closely related to that of the sun god excavated at Khairkhana Pass near Kabul (Sassano-Kushan style). The Surya cult was in 10th Century superseded and absorbed by that of Lakshmi Narayana= Surya Narayana.
In numismatic history of Himachal Pradesh we do not find mention of these coins assigned to any state or Kingdom. These coins were found only within the boundaries of Champakpur Town except, four coins from Mandi Toshakhana whose record of find is not available and Dharamshala in District Kangra which was part of Champakpur Kingdom during Sahil Varman’s period.
The Chamba town hoard of the Indo-Sassanian coins included a few coins of Karkotaka rulers of Kashmir. They furnish evidence that the Kashmir coins were current in Chamba alongwith the Indo-Sassanian coins. The currency of the Karkota coins of Kashmir in Chamba finds support from another hoard, which had these coins only. In these we have the coins of Pratapaditya dn Vinyaditya. Kashmir coins found prominent currency in Chamba during the time of Lohara rulers. The Lohara rulers had close relations with Chamba rulers as we have noticed earlier. A hoard of their coins was found in the Bidingi village and included the coins of Kshemagupta, Diddi down to last ruler.
The costumes of Gaddis, Chamials,Churahis, Pangwals, Gujjars and Bhattyals differs fundamentally from that of the Indian plains, Tibet, Persia and Afghanistan.
The cap (Jojee) of the Churahi and Pangwal women is found amongst Hunza women of the Hindkush, the Kurdish women of Persia and Circassian women of the Caucasus. In the past this female flat cap can be traced among the “Iranians” of Turfan. Probably it goes back to an East Iranian prototype, as it is a common head dress of the Bactrians (Indo-Greek) and even of the Persian kings on Achaemenian reliefs.
In Churah the fountain stones of 11th & 12th Century reveal a quite exceptional pantheon. The highest god of heaven and of justice is Varuna. By his sides there appear female water goddesses, not of the fountains, but of the rivers, in one case atleast identified with the holy rivers( Ganga, yamuna, Sindhu and its tributories) of Hinduism. Varuna had been the Indian god of heaven and justice only in Rigvedic times ( ca 1200-800 BC) lateron to be reduced to the position of a digpala, one of the eight guardians of the four principal and four secondary points of the compass. In other word the cult of Churah up to the Muslim invasion had been a remnant of a very early stage of Indian religion. It should also be observed that in ancient churah other indigenous cults were absent, even those of Chamunda and of Nagas.
We may come to a safe conclusion that the Indo greek,
Indo Sassanian, Chakli,
coins of later rulers of Kashmir, Sur and Mughal
were prevalent in the region from time to time and also speaks about the
cultural history of the region.