Drachm - Vigrahapala Sri Vigra dramma

Features

Issuer	Pratihara Empire (Indian Northern Dynasties)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	778-883
Value	1 Drachm
Currency	Drachm (543-1390)
Composition	Silver
Weight	3.8 g
Diameter	16.12 mm
Thickness	2.13 mm
Shape	Round (irregular)
Technique	Hammered
Orientation	Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized	Yes
Number	N# 423525
References	Maheshwari# Fig 121 Kamalesh Kumar Maheshwari; 2010. Imitations in Continuity, Tracking the Silver Coinage of Early Medieval India. IIRNS Publications .

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Series: Vasudeva's Imitations

Obverse

Stylised bust to right, with chevron-shaped crown, a diamond type motif is added above the headdress.
The legend Sri Vigra is in two lines – Sri above (in front of bust) and Vigra in second line below.
Dotted border

Script: Brahmi

Reverse

The Fire altar has a solid base; the flames are made up of dots with horizontal lines; letter Ma replaces the altar stand.
Two attendants flank the altar; Dotted border.

Edge

Plain

Comments

Track 3 of Indo-Sassanian Coinage - Eastern Indo-Sassanian coinage - Imperial Pratihara Empire

The Pratiharas - Sri Vigra - tentative period CE 778 - 883 CE

In this series the Proto Sri Vigra (previous emission, link below) is promoted into a type (Fig 121) with legend in two lines, in front of the bust – Sri above and Vigra below it

The Sri above the crown (ref Proto Sri Vigra) disappears, a diamond is added to the chevron-shaped headdress; the reverse of these coins have two varieties.

Type a with letter Ma on reverse

Type b with letter Sa on reverse

Type a

Fig 121a sample coins

Type b

Fig 121b sample coin

Type c

Maheshwari also describes a third variety without letters Ma or Sa on the reverse; the space (of the letter/s) is occupied by a line showing the pedestal; the flames represented by dots since the inception of the Indo-Sasanian series, is replaced by a straight vertical line. The attendant’s hands on the flame side are shown turning towards the head.

A sample coin from the referred book

It is this reverse that is carried over to the next emission of the series, Sri Vi

The above information is based on studies conducted by KK Maheshwari & extracted from his book - Imitations in Continuity

image credits -
1. Imitations in Continuity - K.K. Maheshwari
2. Amit Kher Collection

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Date					VG	F	VF	XF	AU	UNC
Undetermined
ND (778-883)												Type a
ND (778-883)												Type b
ND (778-883)												Type c

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