-40%
Rare! Silver drachm of Chastana Kardamaka (ca.78-130 AD) as Mahakshatrapa, Indo-
$ 51.18
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Description
Bust of Chastana right with collar showing, wearing a satrapal cap, corrupt Greek inscription / Crescent on a three-arched hill over a wavy line, crescent in the left field, sun in the right field, inscription in Brahmi - RaJno MaHaKsaTraPaSa Ghsamotikaputrasa Chastanasa ("Of Raja Mahakshatrapa Chastana son of Zamotika"). 16mm, 1.81 grams. Rajgor "The Studies in the Coinage of the Western Kshatraps" #219-221; Senior ISCH #314.8.The coin is actually quite a bit nicer than the photo, with nice surfaces and a good portrait. Chastana was the founder of the Western Satraps' Kingdom and the founder of the Saka Era (Vikrama Samvat era), which is still used in India and in some other regions. Chastana ruled as Satrap until the fall of Nahapana in ca.100 AD, and after that as Mahakshatrapa ("Great Satrap"). The coins of Chastana are rare.