The Satavahana who dominated the political scene of Post-Mauryan Deccan for about four centuries played an important role in the history of Karnataka also. In spite of many great scholars probing in to the origin and political history of this dynasty, not a satisfactory picture has emerged till now. This is due to the highly conflicting data supplied by the various Puranas and Inscriptions. Bellary region in Karnataka has been regarded as the original home of the early Satavahana rule in Karnataka. Many inscriptions, executions and coins have provided beyond doubt the intimate connection of the Satavahanas with Karnataka. Thus Satavahanas coinage has to be viewed under a wide geographical area rather than Karnataka alone.
The fabric, motif and metallic content also change from area to area. In the Vidharba region they issued punch-marked coins but in the other areas they issued die-struck coins. Even the symbols that we find on their coins could be arranged to area of circulation. From this it becomes clear that Satavahanas coins had a wide circulation. Usually the Sathavahana coins have “legends in Brahmi scripts” of period on both obverse and reverse and such symbols as lion, elephant, horse, bow, hill, ujjain, etc. on the reverse. As the Satavahanas had developed good maritime activity, some of their coins depict two masts which symbolize their maritime activity.
Satavahana coinage has received great attention of the numismatics from the early times, the credit of studying these coins in a systematic way should go to Rapson who compiled a volume on the coinage of Satavahanas.
Sri Pulmavi Sri Satakani Sri Yagna Satakani
78 AD 148 AD 167AD
The picture has been provided by the Girish Sharma
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