Lot 87

Tribe of Punjab, Audumbaras / Odumbaras, Sivadasa, Copper Unit, 2.66 gms, 15.07 x 18.08 mm, Obv: Double storied temple with pillers with trident-axe on right around Brahmi legend, Rev: In a square incuse tree on left, forepart of an elephant to left on right side, wavy line below and Kharoshthi legend,Audumbaras were one of the most prominent and ancient tribes of Punjab area. There are prolific references of this tribe in ancient texts viz. Panini’s Ganapatha and Patanjali’s Mahabhashya. Their peak period was around 1st century BC, to which, their coins belong.  They inhabitated the areas around Noorpur (between Pathankot and Kangra).  Audumbara (fig) trees, from which, this tribe got its name, are well represented on their coins.  Depiction of a two storied temple is an important feature of these coins.  3 kings are known from the known coins (Shivadasa, Rudradasa and Dharaghosha), which always depict bi-lingual inscriptions (Brahmi / Kharoshthi).  Legend on present coin reads as ‘Mahadevasa Rana Sivadasa Odubarasia’. D. Handa, Tribal Coins of Ancient India, pl. VI, very fine. very rare.