A Rare coin of Yashaditya King
The descriptions are all based on the analysis for these coins presented in the article: 'New types of early medieval silver portrait coins from northern Pakistan' in ONS-NL 181 (2004):
In 1990s small hoard of small silver coins was unearthed in (reportedly) Northern Pakistan. The hoard was dispersed between a number of dealers, and the researcher was lucky enough to get the bulk (reported) of the hoard. These fascinating little silver coins were originally sold as "Hephthalite" coins, as per attribution of the Pakistani dealers, but they are completely unpublished in any catalogue and were completely unknown until this find.
The coins were first published by Robert Tye (Tye, R., 'Dammas, Daniqs and Abd al-Malik", ONSN No.148, 1996, pp.7-10).
Mr. Wilfried Pieper Ji, examined a group of 42 pieces and published 15 distinguishable types in a wonderful article in the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society - 'New types of early medieval silver portrait coins from northern Pakistan' in ONS-NL 181 (2004). W. Pieper had deciphered about 125+ other specimens, with over 40 varieties identified and described. The huge variety of different crowns on these coins were probably incidental - each type was engraved with a new crown, as was allowed by the imagination of the celator, and such diversity was probably not intended. Despite a number of die links, close to 100 different dies can be identified - it is likely that the original issue was quite large. Despite that, very few coins had survived until date.
The coins are fairly small - they measure only 10 to 12 millimeters in diameter (about half an inch) and weigh about 0.52 to 0.96 grams, with the weight of the average pieces being 0.6 to 0.7 grams. The obverse depicted a crowned bust of two types ("small" and "large") and the reverses are of two types - a scarcer type depicting an altar, usually flanked by attendants, and the more "common" type depicts a trident with curved prongs and a 5-letter Brahmi inscription: Sri YaShaaDiTya which is written in clock-wise, as well as anti clock-wise position & most of the times, doesn't follow any kind of set structure.
In 1990s small hoard of small silver coins was unearthed in (reportedly) Northern Pakistan. The hoard was dispersed between a number of dealers, and the researcher was lucky enough to get the bulk (reported) of the hoard. These fascinating little silver coins were originally sold as "Hephthalite" coins, as per attribution of the Pakistani dealers, but they are completely unpublished in any catalogue and were completely unknown until this find.
The coins were first published by Robert Tye (Tye, R., 'Dammas, Daniqs and Abd al-Malik", ONSN No.148, 1996, pp.7-10).
Mr. Wilfried Pieper Ji, examined a group of 42 pieces and published 15 distinguishable types in a wonderful article in the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society - 'New types of early medieval silver portrait coins from northern Pakistan' in ONS-NL 181 (2004). W. Pieper had deciphered about 125+ other specimens, with over 40 varieties identified and described. The huge variety of different crowns on these coins were probably incidental - each type was engraved with a new crown, as was allowed by the imagination of the celator, and such diversity was probably not intended. Despite a number of die links, close to 100 different dies can be identified - it is likely that the original issue was quite large. Despite that, very few coins had survived until date.
The coins are fairly small - they measure only 10 to 12 millimeters in diameter (about half an inch) and weigh about 0.52 to 0.96 grams, with the weight of the average pieces being 0.6 to 0.7 grams. The obverse depicted a crowned bust of two types ("small" and "large") and the reverses are of two types - a scarcer type depicting an altar, usually flanked by attendants, and the more "common" type depicts a trident with curved prongs and a 5-letter Brahmi inscription: Sri YaShaaDiTya which is written in clock-wise, as well as anti clock-wise position & most of the times, doesn't follow any kind of set structure.
Obverse: Crowned bust of the ruler facing right, ("open rectangle" crown with three dots inside and central dot within a crescent). Portrait of the rulers bust seen in full and on-flan wearing an elaborate earring. All within dotted border.
Reverse: Trident with a short staff surrounding Brahmi inscription Shri YaShaaDiTya.
The honorific title in Brahmi 'Shri' is always placed horizontally on the top on this coins reverse. The personal name YaShaaDiTya is arranged on 1st coin's bottom right - top right.
Attributions: Pieper's New types of early medieval silver portrait coins from northern Pakistan' in ONS-NL 181 (2004).
Reverse: Trident with a short staff surrounding Brahmi inscription Shri YaShaaDiTya.
The honorific title in Brahmi 'Shri' is always placed horizontally on the top on this coins reverse. The personal name YaShaaDiTya is arranged on 1st coin's bottom right - top right.
Attributions: Pieper's New types of early medieval silver portrait coins from northern Pakistan' in ONS-NL 181 (2004).
P.S: This coin is an uncleaned specimen and in natural state of preservation.
It's hard to get such specimen with a complete portrait on the obverse, Trident & legends seen in full, on flan with a complete dotted border on such a small flan. These types are totally different from all the other known & documented coins that have been issued in the same style in the name of the ruler Yashaaditya.
This coin is cherry picked in regards to its grade & overall condition. The specimen is in high-grade & is a collectible beauty. (source: http://www.ancientcoins.ca/yashaaditya/yashaaditya.htm
It's hard to get such specimen with a complete portrait on the obverse, Trident & legends seen in full, on flan with a complete dotted border on such a small flan. These types are totally different from all the other known & documented coins that have been issued in the same style in the name of the ruler Yashaaditya.
This coin is cherry picked in regards to its grade & overall condition. The specimen is in high-grade & is a collectible beauty. (source: http://www.ancientcoins.ca/yashaaditya/yashaaditya.htm
