1 Jital - The Chahamanas Sri Ha Derivatives ND
| Billon (Silver content 205 to 095 as per samples observed, variation in silver purity) | 3.85 g | 20.67 mm |
| Issuer | Chauhan Dynasty (Indian Northern Dynasties) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 700-800 |
| Value | 1 Drachm |
| Currency | Drachm (543-1390) |
| Composition | Billon (Silver content 205 to 095 as per samples observed, variation in silver purity) |
| Weight | 3.85 g |
| Diameter | 20.67 mm |
| Thickness | 1.82 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#411082 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Fire altar with two attendants on either side
Edge
Plain
Comment
This series of coins is a part of Track 2 of Indo-Sassanian Coinage - Eastern Indo-Sassanian coinage, tentative period 7th to 8th Century CE
Track 2 consists of 3 series-
Vasudeva’s Imitations
Sri Ha series
Sri Ha Derivatives
KK Maheshwari in his book Imitations in Continuity places the coins in order as listed above.
Steve Williams (Finn235) debates that the Derivative coins came before the Sri Ha series, based on various features that appear or aren’t present in either of the 2 series.
The Derivative series of coins present -
obverse - a portrait to right; above the crown Devanagari “Sa” within a circle, but this feature is mostly out of flan; in front of the portrait is a representation of Devanagari Sri with variations and below the Sri is another Devanagari letter also with variations, as presented below through sketches and coins.
reverse - the standard replication of Sasanian style Fire Altar found on almost all coins of the Indo-Sasanian series
Fig 84 Fig 85
In the Sri Ha Derivative series, the following combinations appear -
Sri Ha
Sri Va
Sri Sha
Sri Pa
Sri Bho
Sri Na
Sri Dama
Floral motif
Floral motif stem only
Plain Field
Leaf symbol behind bust
Sri Te
Sri Va with a different, smaller bust
Sri Ma
Trident series, the reverse has a Trident (varieties) replacing the Fire altar
Unpublished variant - Plain field below Sri -
image credits -
1. Imitations in Continuity - K.K. Maheshwari
2. Amit Kher Collection
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it was made of Billon, which is an alloy of silver and other metals, and had a variable silver purity, ranging from 205 to 095 as per samples observed. This suggests that the coin's composition was not uniform and may have been influenced by various factors such as the availability of silver or other metals during the time it was minted.
