ANCIENT INDIA TRIBAL COINS

This presentation is based Tribals coins, including
Audumbara
Kulutas
Kunindas
Malavas
Yaudheyas

1. JIWAJI UNIVERSITY, GWALIOR
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY
A SEMINAR
PRESENTATION
ON
TYPES OF TRIBAL COINS
M.A. (AIHCA) -II SEMESTER
SESSION 2021-23
PRESENTED TO: PRESENTED BY :
SAURABH RAJPUT
MA-AIHCA-II SEM
Prof. (Dr.) S. K. DWIVEDI
Prof. (Dr.) A. K. SINGH
Prof. (Dr.) S. D. SISODIA

2. TRIBES IN CONTEXT OF ANCIENT INDIA
With regards to ancient India, Tribe or more correctly Ganas have been in the existence in India since antiquity
and seems to have retained their unique cultural traits for a long period of time. Most of them were warrior clans
and used to take proud on their long line of progeny.
The intented word Tribes here specifically represent the clans dominating the political scenario in the crucial
period of ancient India from approximate 6
th
century BCE to 5
th
century CE. During this period various individual
political entities in ancient India had experinced various types of political systems namely, Republics, Monarchy,
and confederacy.
There were some Ganas or Tribes which had spread through out North, West and central India and had
prominant role in the politics of Ancient India but have got somewhat lesser attention in history writing on account
of obscure information available about them.
We come to know from Buddhist Sutra, jaina literatures, sanskrit Vedas, epics and texts like Ashtadhyayi,
Ganasutra, Patanjali Mahabhashya and Arthshastra or literatures, classical Greek writers, etc. Here, People
generally belonging to same clan used to rule in oligarchy fashion, there was no particular king but a large body of
people used to take decision by way of voting. They usually called themselves with the name of the Tribe followed
by the word Gana (Republic) or Janapada (State, nation)
Epics and other sources give contrasting information about their location, this is primarily because these tribes
were not stationary at one place but moving around the country for various reasons.

3. Map is based on the location provided in ancient texts and the coins found at later times.

5. SOME FAMOUS TRIBES OF ANCIENT INDIA
1. AGRAS/AGREYAS
2. ARJUNAYANAS/PRARJUNAS
3. AUDUMBARAS/ODOMBARAS*
4. SANKANIKS
5. KHARPARIKAS
6. KULUTAS*
7. KUNINDAS*
8. KSHUDRAKAS
9. SAVITRIPUTRAS/ SHALVAS
10. MADRAS
11. MALAVAS*
12. PAURAVAS
13. SHIBIS
14. TRIGARTAS
15. UDDEHIKAS
16. VEMAKIS/VAIMAKYAS
17. VRISHINIS
18. YAUDHEYAS*
Some of these Tribes (or Ganas/Janas) issued coins bearing the name of the Tribe. This however is not
correct for all the tribes. Those tribes which successfully survived Mauryan imperialism and Foreign
invasions, threw away the yoke of subjugation and independently issued coins. We will be studying
typology of some the selected coins issued by these tribes in our next slides.
NOTE : (COINS OF THE TRIBES IN CAPTION ARE IN OUR SCOPE OF STUDY)

6. NEED TO STUDY THE ANCIENT TRIBAL COINS ?
•Source of information for these ancient tribes of India are very scarce. These tribes had hardly left any
inscriptional record about themselve, less is the informtion about them in ancient Indian texts, except random
and conflicting records. However, they are recorded in majorty of Inscriptions issued by other kings. For
example, Rudradaman in his Girnar Inscription recorded on Yaudheya clan having crushed their great Kshatriya
proud. Similary, SamudraGupta in his Prayag Prashati recorded subjugating various tribes of north Namely
Sankanik, Kharparik, Yaudheya. Ushavadatta mentioned foiling an attack on Pushkar by Malavas etc.
Some Important aspect of Tribal numismatism.
1.History
2.Culture
3.Religion
4.Kingship
5.Capital
6.Mint-site
7.Metallury and Minting techniques.
8.Trade and commerce –Diminutive nature of Malava Coins is evidence of poor economy, No silver coin issued by
Yaudheya is evidence of closed economy.
9.Toponyms –Helps us to trace out the route they followed during their movement from punjabto rajsthan,
Movement of kshudrakas, Agras, Sibis can be traced by numismatic and literary evidences.

7. AUDUMBARAS
Also known as Udumbaras or Odumbaras were one of the
oldest and well known tribes of ancient India. It was 1
st
Century
BC when they were at the height of glory and power when they
issued their coins. Panini Ganapatha 5
th
century BC place them
under Rajanya class of people near the people of
Jalandharayana and mentioned along with Agras, Yugandharas,
Panchalas. Later treaty of Panini Ashtadhyayi mentions
udumbaras along with other tribes as section of Salvas.
Salavas in Shatapatha Brahmana are described as very
eminent and prosperous people. Audumbaras are mentioned in
Mahabhasya and Mahabharata along with Vaiyamakas and
Bahlikas.
D.C. Sircar suggests that Udumbara tree had some important
value for Audumbara tribe. Many puranas also corroborates this
theory by associating Vishwamitraand Odumbara treewith
Audumbara Tribe.
AUDUMBARA OR GULAR TREE
VISHWAMITRA (RAJA RAVIVARMA)

8. AUDUMBARAS

9. AUDUMBARAS COIN TYPE
COIN TOPOGRAPHY : PATHANKOT, IRIPPAL IN KANGRA DISTRICT, PALAMPUR
COIN METAL : SILVER AND COPPER
METHOD USED :DIE STRIKING (DUE TO INCUSE SEEN IN THE COINS)
Coin Class -1 [Silver coins of Dharagosha Audumbara(1.75 CM, 2.43 GRAM)
Obverse Reverse
Vishwamitra Hand raise as seen in
Herakles type coins with Lion skin in
left hand Katyavalambita Mudra
Trident+Axe type
weapen with Ribbon
Audumbara Tree in
railings
Kharosthi Brahmi
MAHADEVASA
RANO
DHARAGHOSHAS
A ODUMBARISA
VISPAMITRA

10. Coin Class -2 [Rectangular Copper coins Temple Type Audumbara]
(1.4 CM-1.620 GRAM)
HindujaFoundation.org
numisvid.com
three-storied temple with an axe-shafted and a ribboned trident on the right field, the Brahmi legend "Mahadevasa (Rana Rudradasasa) Odubarisa" around the field, Rev: a tree
within railings and the forepart of an elephant on the right field, with a wavy river-like line below, the Kharoshthi legend "Mahadevasa Rana (Rudradasasa Odubarisa)"
Different Temple/Stupa depiction in 2-D and 3-D forms on various Copper coins of Audumbaras. (Circa 1 BCE to 1
CE)
JONS AUTUMN 2021

11. Legends in Audumbara Coins
LEGEND : BI-SCRIPTUAL LEGENDS IN BRAHMI AND KHAROSHTHI
1.MAHADEVASA RANA SHIVADASASAODUBARISA
2.MAHADEVASA RANA RUDRADASASA ODUBARISA
3.MAHADEVASA RANA DHARAGHOSHASA ODUBARISA
Obv: Elephant with Ankus standing facing right with trident-battle axe standard in front, Brahmi legend around, "Bhagavata Mahadevasa Rajaraja"
Rev: Humped bull standing facing right with lotus in front, Khharoshti legend around, "Bhagavata Mahadevasa Rajaraja"
ELEPHANT
HOLDING
ANKUSH (GOAD)
HUMPED BULL WITH
CHAKRA SYMBOL,
WAVY LINE BELOW

12. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON AUDUMBARA COINS
THESE COINS ARE KEPT AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM, INDIAN MUSEUM KOLKATA, THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF BOMBAY.
CUNNINGHAM DISCOVERY OF THE COINS ALONG WITH THE COINS OF ZOILUS, VONONES, GONDOPHARES AND KNISHKA AND
HUVISHKA TENDS TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE CLOSE OF THESE RULERS IN DATE. THE SQUARE COPPER COINS ARE
DEFINATELY INDIAN IN NATURE. THEY MAY BE PRESUMED TO BE THE EALIIEST. AND SILVER COIN HAS INDO GREEK EFFECT
HENCE IT WAS THE LAST OF TYPE. HENCE, WE CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT AUDUMBARA COINS BELONG TO FIRST CENTURY
BCE.
SOME DEPICTIONS :
1. TEMPLE STRUCTURE
2.TREE IN ENCLOSURE
3.BEARDED HUMAN FIGURE
4.TRIDENT BATTLE AXE
5.SWASTIKA DHWAJA
6.CHAKRA DWAJA
7.ELEPHANT
8.LION
9.THREE ARCHED HILL
10. UNDULATING WAVY LINES –SNAKE OR PROBABLY RIVER
THE AUDUMBARA WERE STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ON A TRADE ROUTE WHICH CONNECTED GANGA VALLEY WITH KASHMIR
AND THE WESTERN WORLD, IT WS JUNCTION OF COMMERCIAL ROUTES TO TWO RICH VALLEY KANGRA AND CHAMBA ALSO
TWO GREAT CITIES LAHORE AND JALANDHAR IN THE PLAINS. SILVER COIN WEIGHT STANDARD MATCH WITH THE PERSIAN
STANDARD.

13. KULUTAS
Raja-sabd-opajivinah Sangha. First
appeared nearby Takshashila but
soon driven out by the foreign
invasion. They ultimately settled into
Kulu valley which derived its name
from the Kuluta people who survived
the final demise of the polity. Their
coins show auspicious symbols like
swastika, Nandipada, mountain &
Dharmachakra. which indicates that
they were prob. Buddhists.
According to P. L. Gupta there were two
branched of kuluta one resided at close
to Trigarta and other in Punjab in the
neighborhood of Madra. K. K. Dasgupta
said these two groups were actually two
branches of same clan. They were
surrounding area around Kullu, even
Banbhatt Kadambri mention of a Kuluta
king, Hwein Tsang mentions a territory of
Ku-lo-to where he went from she-lan-ta-lo
Jalandhara. Al-Biruni mentions about
Kuluta.

14. TYPOLOGY OF KULUTA COINS
METAL USED :COPPER
TECHNIQUE : DIE STRIKING
SHAPE : SQUARE AND ROUND
WEIGHT :HALF PANA = 40 RATTI; 1 RATTI = 1.89 GRAIN [AVERAGE]
ONLY TWO SERIES AND SOME DOZEN COINS ARE KNOWN TO BE FOUND :
SERIES I [COPPER, SQUARE]
SERIES II [COPPER, CIRCULAR]
Nandi pada
Srivatsa (2 Cobras)
Swastika
Indradhwaja
VIRAYASHASYA
RAJNA KALUTASYA
SIX ARCHED MOUNTAIN SURMOUNTED
BY STANDARD
VIRAYASHAS (1.988 CM, 3.648 GRAM) BRITISH MUSEUM

15. KULUTA LION TYPE COIN
Obv :Lion to left on right, SriVatsa on the
top right corner, Brahmi legend along the
left read bottom up : Virayasasa
Rev :Six-arched symbol capped by a
horizontal line supported on three slanted
place pillars, looks like A Hill or Buddhist
Stupa, A Swastika on its right
TYPES OF LEGEND ON KULUTA COINS
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR KINGS WHO HAVE STUCK COINS WITH THE NAME KULUTA (CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
ARYAMITRA –TREE IN RAILING IN PLACE OF NANDIPADA STANDARD, AS PER THE EARLY KINGS OF TAXILAS
SATYAMITRA –KHAROSHTHI IN MORE CURSIVE STYLE
VIJAYAMITRA -SWASTIKA, A STAFF IN RAILING
VIRAYASAS -CIRCULAR COIN INFLUENCED BY INDO GREEK, THIS IS OF QUITE LATER PERIOD

16. OTHER TYPES
RAJNA KULATASYA ARYA.......
RAJNA KULATASA SACHAMITASA
RANA KULUTASA VIJAYAMITASA
RANA KULUTASA VIJAYAMITASA
Ref. -Tribal coins of Ancient India -Devendra Handa Plate No. XI

17. SYMBOL DEPICTED ON KULUTA COINS
SYMBOLS :
DHARMA-CHAKRA = BUDDHIST SYMBOL
SRIVATSA = TWO SNAKE LIKE SYMBOLS FACING VERTICAL LINE,
NANDIPADA = BUDDHIST TRIRATNA (BUDDHA, DHAMMA, SANGHA)
6-10 ARCHED CHAITYA OR HILL = BUDDHIST STUPA
SHAFT WITH IN RAILING= NANDIDHWAJA, CHAKRADHWAJA
4 NANDIPADAS = EARTH PROTECTED BY NANDIPADAS FROM 4 SIDES
SWASTIKA = SYMBOL OF AUSPICIOUS
PLOUGH = IT COULD BE ANKUSH OR GOAD

18. THE KUNINDAS
PRIDEFUL OF ANCIENT INDIAN
REPUBLICAN TRIBES
PANINI MENTIONS THEM AS KULUNA
MAHABHARATA MENTIONS THIS TRIBE
KUNINDAS AS PEOPLE HAVING
RESIDING ON BOTH SIDES OF RIVER
SHAILODA CONQUERED BY ARJUNA
BHAGAVATA, BRAHMANDA,
MARKANDEYA, VAYU PURANA
MAHAMAYURI ALLUDES TO THE
POPULARITY OF WORSHIP OF YAKSHA
USHTRAPADA AMONGST THE KULINDAS
CUNNINGHAM IDENTIFIED THE
KUNINDAS WITH THE MODERN
KUNETS WHOSE POPULATION IN THE
HILL STATES BETWEEN THE BEAS
AND TONS RIVERS CANNOT BE TAKEN
AT LESS. BOTH SIDES OF SATLUJ.
VISHNU PURANA REFERS TO BOTH
KULINDAS AND KULINDOPATYAKAS
AND DESCRIBES KUNIDESH ACROSS
THE VIPASHA
CAPITAL ACCORDING TO
CUNNINGHAM IS SRUGHNA OR SUGH
ON THE WEST BANK OF OLD JUMNA

19. TYPOLOGY OF KUNINDA COINS
COIN ORIGIN :
1. BEHAT NEAR SHAHARANPUR
2. SILVER COIN FROM KARNAL
3. AMBALA AND SHARANPUR
COINS ARE NUMEROUS, AS PER THE FINDING OF COINS, THE AREA OF KUNINDAS EXTENDED FROM
KANGRA-MANDI IN HIMACHAL TO GARHWAL -KUMAON IN UTTARANCHAL WITH ADJOINING AREA OF PUNJAB
AND HARYANA WEST UP.
COIN METAL –SILVER, COPPER
MINT TECHNIQUE –WHOLLY CAST, DIE-STRUCK ON CAST BLANK AND HAMMERED BLANK (V. SMITH)
CLASSIFICATION -
BASED ON TWO LEGENDS OF COINS
1. AMOGHABHUTI TYPE -LATER
2. BHAGAVATA CHITRESHWARA MAHATMANAH -EARLIER

20. KUNINDA COIN TYPE : AMOGHABHUTI
SILVER COIN BASED ON HEMIDRACHMS OF INDO -GREEK RULERS BUT TYPE IS PURELY INDIAN, ALL ROUND SHAPE
AND DIAMETER VARIES BETWEEN 1.62 -2.0 CM
OBV :A DEER OR STAG TO RIGHT WITH A FEMALE FIGURE (LAXMI) STANDING FACING ON RIGHT HOLDING FLOWER IN
UPLIFTED RIGHT HAND. BETWEEN THE HORNS ABOVE AND SOMETIMES ALSO BELOW THE DEER ARE SYMBOLS LIKE
SRIVATSA (2 COBRAS), TREE IN RAILING, CRESCENTED HILL (CHAITYA), SWASTIKA ETC
BRAHMI LEGEND AROUND 7 OF CLOCK, RAJNAH KUNINDASYA AMOGHABHUTISYA WITH MAHARAJASAYA BELOW IN
EXERGUE.
REV: SIX ARCHED HILL SURMOUNTED BY AN UMBRELLA AND A NANDIPADA IN CENTRE, TREE INRAILING HAVING
THREE OR FOUR HORIZONTAL BRANCHES WITH DROOPING LEAVES ON THE RIGHT, SWASTIKA ABOVE AND
INDRADHVAJA, (TRIANGLE HEADED STANDARD) ON THE LEFT AND WAVY LINE BELOW.
KHAROSHTI LEGEND FROM ABOUT 5 O CLOCK ALONG THE BORDER IS RANA KUNDAS AMOGHABHUTISA WITH
MAHARAJASA IN THE EXERGUE.

21. AMOGHABHUTI COIN (SILVER, ROUND SHAPE)
(1.62-2.0 CM)
OBVERSE

22. AMOGHABHUTI COIN (SILVER, ROUND SHAPE)
SWASTIKA
TRIANGLE HEAD
INDRADWAJA
SIX ARCHES CHAITYA
CHHATRA ABOVE, WAVY
LINES BELOW
PINE TREE IN
RAILING
NANDIPADA
REVERSE

23. AMOGHBHUTI COINS ARE CAST COINS
FEMALE FIGURE –SOMETIMES SHOW AS WEARING PUFFED
WRISTLETS AND ANKLETS, BANGLES ON THE WRISTS OR EVEN
UPPER ARMS WITH OR WITHOUT A SCARF AND AN UPPER GARMENT
(UTTARIYA), WIT HLEFT HAND ON THE HIP OR DANGLING DOWN,
SOMETIMES WITH AN UMBRELLA LIKE CHHATRA YASHTI OVER THE
HEAD, STANDING TO FRONT OR SLIGHTLY TURNED TO HER RIGHT,
WITH OR WITHOUT A LOTUS SEAT (PADMA PEETHA) BELOW HER FEET
ETC.
THIS INDICATES A LARGE NUMBER OF DIES AND THEN ONE CAN
ASSUME A LARGE VARIETIES OF COINS ISSUED BY KUNINDAS
SANGHOL, 45 KM WEST OF CHANDIGARH LUDHIANA HIGWAY IN
FATEHGARH SAHIB DISTRICT YIELDED SOME 40 MOULDS AND
CIRCULAR FURNACE INSIDE ADMINISTRATIVE FORTIFIED COMPLEX.
IN PRE PARTHIAN STRATA (1ST BC). AMOGHABHUTI TYPE, CAST
COINS
coin mould archaeological museum sanghol, punjab nmma.nic.in

24. BHAGWATO CHITRESHWARA TYPE COIN
Metal:COPPER
OBV :LEGEND kuninda Bhaga(vato)
ChitreŚvara mahātmanaḥ
CHITRESHWAR (SHIVA) standing
holding Trident-Axe in right, left hand
in KatyalavambHi position.
REV :Mountain deer with other
typical symbols.
All coins are courtesy of Britishmuseum.org

25. THE MALAVAS
500 BCE
200 BCE
200 AD
300 AD

26. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MALAVAS
PANINI ASHTADHAYI DOES NOT GIVE DIRECT REFERENCE TO MALAVAS BUT PATANJALI STATES KSHUDRAKAS AND
MALAVA AS AYUDHA JIVI SANGHAS.
ARRIAN, CURTIUS, DIODORUS PLUTARCH REFER TO PEOPLE NAMED MALLOI WHO OCCUPIED THE TERRITORY
BETWEEN RAVI AND CHENAB NEAR ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE INDUS AT MULTAN AND FOUGHT AGAINST
ALEXANDER IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH OXYDRAKAI (KSHUDRAKAS). KSHUDRAKA -MALLAVI-SENA
CUNNINGHAM IDENTIFY MALLOI WITH MALAV AND IDENTIFIED THEIR CAPITAL WITH MULTAN. EARLIER TEXT LIKE
MAHABHARATA ASSOCIATE THEM WITH MADRA, SHIBI, TRIGARTAS, THIS MEANS THAT THEIR EARLIER LOCATION WAS
NEAR PUNJAB.
MALAVAS ARE NOT MENTIONED BY KAUTILYA THIS MEANS THEY WERE NOT A POLITICAL ENTITY UNDER MAURYAS.
DUE TO THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY FOREIGN INVADERS, MANY OF THE TRIBES OF THE ANCIENT PUNJAB LOST
THEIR POLITICAL ENTITIES AND WERE PUSHED TOWARDS SOUTH IN RAJASTHAN. BHAGVATA AND VISHNU BRAHMA
MATYSYA PURNA ASSOCIATE THEM WITH THE SAURASTHRAS, AVANTIS, ABHIRAS, SURAS, ARBUDAS. PRAYAG
PRASHASTI ALSO ASSOCIATE THEM WITH ARJUNAYANAS, YADUDHEYAS .
MEDIEVAL LEXICOGRAPHERS LIKE YADAVPRAKASHA, HEMCHANDRA, PURUSHOTTMADEVA AND HWEIN TSANG ETC
ASSOCIATE MALAV WITH CURRENT MALWA COUNTRY. THAT MEANS THIS SETTLEMENT WAS COMPLETED BY THE
TIME OF GUPTA

27. TYPOLOGY OF THE MALAVA COINS
A large number of malava coins bearing the tribal name and assigned to the 2nd Century BCE are found in Nagar, 25 km south
west of Uriyara, 40 south east Tonk district, Rajsthan. This movement from Punjab-Rajsthan-Central India is reflected in literary
and epigraphic reference of the period.
Even in Punjab, Ludhiana-Ferozepur, Bhatinda, Patiala, Sangrur is known as Malwa area. Some place still has Malavas
remenicent Maler kotla, Malot(Ludhiana), Malaut (Bhatinda)
Malavas were residing in region of punjab in late 3rd BCE, later from Punjab to Rajasthan (Nagar) through Faridabad (Malab) in
2nd century BCE
Nasik cave inscription of Ushavadatta refers to Malavas in Ajmer (120 CE), this means they were already settled in and around
Ajmer area
Malav coins in Rajasthan are found in numerous numbers, all made of copper and round/rectangular in shape. An
archaeological site Rairh, Newari, in Tonk districtis supposed to have a large minting site where a number of Malavas coins
and mints have been excavated.
Malava coins are numerous in numbers mostly found from Rajsthan, all made of copper and round /rectanglular in shape. They
aretiny pieces of light weight and resemble the Naga coins very closely in type size and fabric.
The legends are in Brahmi, Type-I generally show the legend on the obverse sometimes continuing even on the reverse,
prakrit to sanskrit, Sometimes accompanied by some symbols.

28. TYPOLOGY OF THE MALAVA COINS
LEGENDS
CLASS I COINS -SHORT TRIBE NAME
MALA, MALAYA, MALAVA, MALAVA JAYA, MALAVANA JAYA, MALAVAHNA JAYA, MALAVANAM, MALAVAGANASYA, MALAVA
GANASYA JAYA, MALAVA SUJAYA
CLASS II COINS -SHORT ENIGMATIC LEGEND
BHAPAMYANA, YAMA (MAYA), MAJUPA, MAPOJAYA, MAPAYA, MAGAJASHA, MAGAJA, MAGOJAVA, GOJARA, MASHAPA,
MAPAKA, YAMAII, PACHHA, MAGACHHA, GAJAVA, JAMAKA, JAMAPAYA, PAYA, MAHARAYA, MARAJA.
WEIGHT : VERY SMALL SIZE COIN AND LIGHT WEIGHT, 4~9 GRAINS. 1/16 -1/32 PANAS A SMALLEST COIN SIZE 1.7
GRAIN (110 MG) IS IN INDIAN MUSEUM KOLKATA. 5 MM DIAMETER.
HIGHEST WEIGHT 43.84 GRAINS WHILE MOST OF THE COINS ARE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF 4 -9 GRAINS.
MASHAKA = 2 RATTI = 3.6 GRAIN
ARDHA MASHAKA = 1 RATTI = 2.7 GRAIN
KAKIN = 1/2 RATTI = 0.9 GRAINS
THESE COINS WERE SMALL, HENCE INDICATE TOWARDS SMALL TRADE ACTIVITY IN MALWA STATE AND ONLY
LOCALIZED USE, SMALL TRANSACTIONS. SOME SCHOLARS (DOUGLAS) SUSPECT THAT THE MALAVAS WERE POOR
COMMUNITY THE COULD FIND A USE FOR SUCH LOW VALUE COINS AND MOSTLY AGRICULTURE BASED
COMMUNITY.
CHRONOLOGY : FROM PALAEOGRAPHIC STUDY IT IS OBSERVED THAT EARLIEST COINS WERE FROM 2ND BC AND
LATEST ONES WERE FROM 4TH AD.

29. VARIOUS MALAVAS COINS FROM RAJSTHAN OF CLASS -I CATEGORY BEARING MALAVANAM JAYA, TREE
IN RAILING, SOLAR SYMBOL, SNAKE, NANDIPADA, LION FIGURE, CHAITYA, SWASTIKA ETC.
(Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum Calcutta VOL.1 PART-II VINCENT SMITH, PLATE-XX)

30. VARIOUS MALAVAS COINS FROM RAJSTHAN OF CLASS -II CATEGORY BEARING NAME OF CHIEF?, TREE
IN RAILING, SOLAR SYMBOL, SNAKE, NANDIPADA, LION, ELEPHANT FIGURE, CHAITYA, SWASTIKA,
CHAKRA ETC.
(Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum Calcutta VOL.1 PART-II VINCENT SMITH, PLATE -XXI)
SECOND TYPES OF COINS BEARING NAME UNKNOWN IN SANSKRIT HAS NO MEANING, ACCORDING TO SOME SCHOLARS MAY BE
SHORTEN FORM OR ABBREVIATION OF SOME COMMON NAME USED BY THE MALAVAS. BUT THIS THEORY IS NOT TENABLE AS SOME
ABBREVIATION IS HARD TO FIND ANY SUITABLE MEANING.

31. THE YAUDHEYAS
THE YAUDHEYAS WERE AT VERY PROMINENT POSITION IN ANCIENT INDIAN REPUBLIC TRIBES, YAUDHEYA IS MADE OF THE WORD
YUDH/YODH [TO STRIKE, TO FIGHT]. THE YAUDHEYAS KEPT UP THE TRADITION OF BEIING BRAVE WARRIORS. EARLIEST REFERENES TO
THEIR EXISTENCE OCCURE IN PANINI ASHTYADHYAYI AND GANAPATHA AS AYUDHA JIVI SANGHA. JAIMINIYA BRAHMANA HAS MENTION OF
YAUDHEYA RAJYA. THUS THEY ARE VERY OLD TRIBE OF INDIA. ARRIAN DEFINE THEM RESIDING IN EXTREMELY FERTILE TERRITORY.
BAHUDHANAKE (ROHTAK) IS REGARDED AS YAUDHEYA STRONG HOLD.
PANINI TOLD THEY FIRST RESIDED IN VAHILIKA COUNTRY. THEY OCCUPIED AREA NORTH OF SARASWATI AND SATLUJ BY 4TH CENTURY
BCE.
MAHABHARATA ASSOCIATE THEM WITH 1. YAUDHEYA SIBI, TRIGARTA, 2. MADRAKAS AND MALAVAS, 3. GARUD PURANA PLACE THEM IN

32. TYPOLOGY OF YAUDHEYA COINS
LOCATION : INDO GREEK KINGS DESTROYED YAUDHEYA CAPITAL AT ROHTAK, THEN AFTER SOMETIMES THEY REGAINED POWER AND
MADE PRAKRITANAKA NAGARA (NAURANGABAD 35 KM NORTH WEST OF ROHTAK (ROHITA)) NEW CAPITAL.A MINT ALSO WAS SETUP
THERE.
AFTER INCURSION OF SHAKA KSHTRAPA, YAUDHEYA MIGHT HAVE MIGRATED TO HILLY REGION OF HIMACHAL AND HENCE SETTLED
THERE , THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD CLASH WITH LOCAL KUNINDA TRIBE AND ISSUED COINS OF KARTIKEYA AND HEX CEPHALIC SHIVA
LATER AFTER DEMISE OF HUVISHKA THEY ATTACKED DOWNWORDS IN PLAINS AGAINST FOREIGN RULERS. AFTER VASUDEVA I THEY
RETRIEVE PLAIN ONCE AGAIN. CONTROL PUNJAB AND HARIYANA REGION NORTH OF SATLUJ UPTO MORADABAD. WE SEE LEGEND
“YAUDHEYA GANASYA JAYA” IN THIS AFFECT.
RUDRAVARMAN RECORDED JUNAGADH INSCRIPTION, CLAIM TO HAVE DEFEATED YAUDHEYA CLAN. THIS IMPLY THEIR WESTWARD
MOVEMENT. COINS FOUND AT BIJAYGARH, BAYANA, BHARATPUR TESTIFIES THEIR WESTWARD EXPANSION.
MAHAMAYURI ASCRIBABE TO THE EARLY CENTURIES OF THE CURRENT ERA REFER PURANJAYA AS THE TUTELARY YAKSHA OF THE
YAUDHEYAS, YAKSHA KAPILA OF BAHUDHANAYKA AND KARTIKEYA KUMARA AS THAT OF ROHTAKA.
METAL USED :COPPER, POTIN, SILVER IS SCARCE
MINT TECHNIQUE :CASTING, DIE-STRIKING, DIE ON PLAIN CAST COINS
8500 COIN MOULDS HAVE BEEN FOUND FROM NAURANGABAD
CHRONOLOGY : 1
ST
BCE TO 4
th
CE

33. CLASSIFICATION OF YAUDHEYA COINS
VARIOUS SCHOLARS HAVE TRIED TO CLASSIFY YAUDHEYA COINS ON THE BASIS OF DIFFERENT TRAITS. JOHN ALLAN
HAS CLASSIFIED THEM IN 6 DIFFERENT CLASS
CLASS 1 :SMALL POTIN COIN FOUND FROM BEHAT NEAR SAHARANPUR, STAMPS OF TREE IN RAILING, UJJAIN SYMBOL,
DOUBLE TRIDENT, STAR OR SUN, TRIANGLE HEADED STAFF FROM A ROUND DIE REV: WITH COMBINATION OF SYMBOLS
AND BRAHMI LEGEND MAHARAJAS INVERTED TRIDENT.
CLASS 2 : METAL USED AS POTIN AND COPPER, BULL BEFORE SACRIFICAL POST, BRAHMI LEGEND YAUDHEYANAM
BAHUDHANAKA, REVER: ELEPHANT WITH A NANDIPADA ABOVE AND FLOWING PENNON BEHIND
CLASS 3 :1 SILVER, NUMEROUS COPPER METALS
CLOSELY CONNECTED IN STYLE AND TYPE WITH THE COINAGE OF KUNINDAS
SIX HEADED KARTIKEYA, BRAHMI LEGEND BHAGAVATA SWAMINO BRAHMANYA
REV: SIX HEADED SHASHTHI STANDING FACING BETWEEN MUTLI ARCHED CHAITYA SURMOUNTED BY NANID PADA ON
LEFT, MULTI BRANCHED TREE IN RAILING ON RIGHT WAVY LINE BELOW
SHIVA REPLACING KARTIKEYA AND DEER BEFORE TEMPLE RELACING A GODDESS WITH CHANGES IN LEGEND
CLASS 4 : CLASS 3 COIN LEGEND BHANUVA (BHANUVARMASA) (GARHWAL)
CLASS 5 : SINGLE SMALL SQUARE COPPER COIN WITH THE LEGEND YAUDHEYANAM ABOVE BULL TO RIGHT IN
CHARACTERS OF 1 BCE (SOUTH HARIYANA)
CLASS 6 : KUSHANA MODULE OF 3
rd
-4
th
CENTURY CE, SHOWING UNICEPHALOUS KARTIKEYA WITH THE LEGEND
YAUDHEYA GANASYA JAYA ON THE OBVERSE, HIS SPOUSE DEVASENA ON THE REVERSE, (MOST EXTENSIVE AND IN
LARGE AREAS OF NORTH INDIA)

34. EARLY YAUDHEYA COINS (KUSHAN PERIOD)
Yaudheyanam Bahudhanake
3 Head Shiva seat on Apasara
Purush-Goddess standing, british
Bhagavata-svamino Brahmanya
Shadananda-Deer Bull and Elephant type, Yaudheyanam
Bahudhanake

35. LATER YAUDHEYA COINS (POST KUSHANA)

36. Bibiliography (References) :
1. CUNNINGHAM ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT VI PP. 165, 174 CUNNINGHAM ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT
2. CUNNINGHAM ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORT XIV PP 149 PLATE XXXI, 19 -25
3. FLEET, CII. III, PREF. P. 67 (CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM)
4. RODGER, I. M. CAT. III, P.15 -INDIAN MUSUEM CATALOGUEA
5. SMITH, JRAS 1897, P. 647 -JOURNAL OF ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY
6. Catalogue of Indian coins in British Museum Vol. 1 Part-1 -J. Allan
7. Catalogue of the coins in the Indian Museum Calcutta Vol. 1 -Vincent Smith
8. Coins of Ancient India (1891) -Sir Maj. Gen. Alexander Cunningham
9. Indian Coins -E. J. Raphson
10. Tribal Coins of Ancient India (2007) -Devendra Handa
11. Ancient Indian Geography -Sir Alexander Cunningham
12. Historical Geography of Ancient India -Bimla Churna Law
13. Geography of Ancient and Medieval India -D. C. Sircar
14. Geography of Bharat As per Markandeya Purana -J. L. Shastri
15. Yaudheya coins oniline : http://ancientcoinsofindiaaruns.blogspot.com/2010/03/yaudheya-coin-of-punjab-300-340-ad.html
16. Tribal coins at vcoin.com :
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ganga_numismatics/216/product/india_tribal_malava_copper_coin_very_rare_and_choice/1303162/Default.aspx
17. Tribal coin at mintageworld https://www.mintageworld.com/coin/dynasty/17/
18. Yaudheya coin at mintageworld https://www.mintageworld.com/blog/temples-on-yaudheya-coins/
19. Yaudheya coins at marudhararts https://www.marudhararts.com/search/?search_param=all1&query=Yaudheya
20. Tribal coins at Numisbids.com https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=5460&lot=36
21. Tribal coins at Hinduja Founation http://hindujafoundation.org/antiquity-collection-listing.html?id=+VJAwCxdpbBDzsX+chLXAQ==
22. Audumbara coins Wikilink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audumbaras
23. Audumbara at MarudharArts https://marudhar-arts.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/l/2033/2033002233.jpg
24. Audumbaras at Vcoins.com
https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ganga_numismatics/216/product/india_tribal_audumbara_copper_coin_very_rare/1660996/Default.aspx