Unlisted very light standard (2.8 g) silver drachm (jital) of Samanta Deva, ca.800-870 AD, Kabulshahi (Tye #14 var)

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Horseman right, holding banner; Nagari Bhi in the upper left, Adl (?) in Arabic in the upper right / śri samanta deva in Nagari, recumbent zebu bull to left with symbol on rump; to left, star above pellet above crescent. Kabul mint. 20mm, 2.82 grams. Tye #14. SKU 42574

Samanta Deva just meant "The Feudatory Chief" - it was the title assumed by the Kabul Shahi and their Islamic successors, and was probably not a personal name. Hundreds of types of jitals inscribed "Samanta Deva" (in imitation of this type) were struck by numerous dynasties in the later period. These very light coins were probably a product of a minor contemporary mints and do not come from Kabul or Ohind - such light coins (weighing 2.8 grams) are known for Spalapati and Samanta and are all rare and still unpublished properly.  

The Kabul Shahi dynasties also called Shahiya ruled the Kabul Valley (in eastern Afghanistan) and the old province of Gandhara (northern Pakistan) during the Classical Period of India, from the decline of the Kushan Empire in the 3rd century to the early 9th century. They are split into two eras the Buddhist-Shahis and the later Hindu-Shahis with the change-over occurring around 870.


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