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Ancient India: Pallavas of Kanchi - uninscribed lead unit, attributed to the early Pallavas,

Currency:INR Category:Coins & Paper Money / Indian Coins - Ancient Start Price:NA Estimated At:80,000.00 - 100,000.00 INR
Ancient India: Pallavas of Kanchi - uninscribed lead unit, attributed to the early Pallavas,
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Pallavas of Kanchi - uninscribed lead unit, attributed to the early Pallavas, (c.300-400 AD), Similar to Krishnamurthy 11, 7.45g. Obv: bull standing facing right, traces of small symbols above. Rev: a ship with two masts.

Extremely fine for the type, Extremely rare.

Pallava coins depicting ships stand a testament to the maritime power of the dynasty and the importance of trade for the Pallava kingdom. The types borrow directly from earlier coins, such as those of the Satavahanas and the Salankayanas. In a wider perspective, these coins are very important evidential components for the history of India's naval prowess during the Ancient Period and the importance of the Eastern Seaboard in forging commercial and political ties to countries across the Bay of Bengal and further, as far as the South China Sea. No lead coins with a two-mast ship have been published before. Krishnamurthy lists a single coin (no. 11) said to have been found in the North Arcot district but the ship it bears has a single mast so it would well be a river ship, not necessarily a seafaring vessel.