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Kalachuris of Mahismati: Buddharaja ? silver fraction
Elephant walking left, ridden by mahout and king ? /
Bull Nandi seated left, Brahmi legend above: buddharajadeva ?
Weight: 0.81 gm, Diameter: 8 mm., Die axis: 10 o'clock
Ref: previously unpublished
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The attribution of this coin, previously unpublished, is highly tentative. The bull on the reverse points clearly to a Kalachuri
origin, as its form matches exactly the Nandi from Cave 22 of Ellora, and other Kalachuri coins. The elephant on the obverse
does not seem to have any clear precedent or fore-runner. Further, although the reading is quite uncertain, it is possible to see the legend as
reading buddharajadeva. Admittedly, in his inscriptions, Buddharaja is always referred to as just Buddharaja, without the title deva at the end, so I'm not so sure this
coin is his. More information is needed before we can gain any confidence in attributing this coin. Note the possible sri below the bull, which would make the legend sri
buddhrajadeva.
You can see more coins of the Kalachuris on the Kalachuris of Mahismati page.
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Bactria: Eucratides I, Gold stater, c. 171-145 BCE
Weight: 8.47 gm., Diam: 20 mm., Die axis: 12 h
Helmeted and diademed bust of king facing right, dotted border around,
the helmet plumed and decorated with the ear and horn of a bull /
Dioscuri riding horses prancing right, carrying spears and palms
Greek legend: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY (of Great King Eucratides)
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Eucratides I ("the Great" ... name also spelled Eukratides) is one of the few Greek kings in India about whom we know something from literary sources. The second century
Roman historian Justin described him as a great man, who commenced his rule around the same time as Mithridates in Parthia (171 BCE). Eucratides was almost certainly a scion of
the Seleucid royal house, who attempted to "re-claim" the throne of the Bactrian kingdom. His "Pedigree" coins (seen on the
Eucratides I page) show his parents,
Heliocles and Laodice, but only his mother Laodice wears a diadem, indicating that she was of royal blood. .
The helmeted type of Eucratides is considered one of the great masterpieces of Bactrian portraiture. The gold stater is very rare, but the type is more easily available in the silver
tetradrachm denomination. The type was also minted in a magnificent 20-stater gold piece, seen on the Eucratides I page
, where you can see more coins of Eucratides.
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