A large Hoard of Satavahana Coins
Summary
The article reports the discovery of a large hoard of more than 1,500 Satavahana coins at Tarhila near Mangrul in Berar. Sent to the Nagpur Museum in October 1939, the potin coins were cleaned and studied by the museum’s coin expert. They all bear an elephant with trunk raised and the name of the reigning king in Prakrit along with the Ujjain symbol on the reverse. This is the second major Satavahana hoard found in the Central Provinces; the first was the Chanda hoard of 1888, comprising 183 coins. Unlike the earlier find, the Tarhila hoard is perhaps the largest Satavahana coin hoard discovered and therefore provides valuable material for numismatic study. The coins represent several Satavahana rulers, including Gautamiputra Satakarni, Pulumavi, Sivadri‑Pulumavi, Skanda Satakarni, Yajña Satakarni, Vijaya Satakarni, Kumbha Satakarni, Karna Satakarni and Saka Satakarni. The article notes variations in orthography: some coins spell the royal name Satakani with a dental 't' instead of the usual alveolar 'ṭ'. The author compares the Tarhila hoard with the Chanda hoard, which lacked clear examples of Siva‑Sri‑Pulumavi coins; the new find contains 32 coins of this king, confirming his existence. The coins of Skanda Satakarni are also better represented, allowing corrections to earlier misreadings that identified his name as Ruda or Canda. The hoard includes coins of lesser‑known kings such as Vijaya, Kumbha and Karna Satakarni, whose names do not appear in the Purāṇas or inscriptions. Some coins display the legend 'Pulahamavi,' possibly representing a different Pulumavi than the well‑known ruler; this suggests that the Tarhila hoard may document a previously unknown branch or later period of the dynasty. By analysing the legends and iconography, the article reconstructs a more complex genealogy for the Satavahana dynasty. The author concludes that the Tarhila hoard offers significant insights into Satavahana numismatics and chronology. The abundance of coins allows for the study of orthographic variations and previously unknown rulers, and it confirms the existence of kings mentioned only in coins. Comparison with earlier hoards highlights regional differences and helps refine the history of the dynasty.
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Conclusion
The article concludes that the Tarhila hoard is a landmark discovery for Satavahana studies. The 1,500‑plus potin coins provide extensive data on royal names, titles and iconography, revealing variants and kings not recorded in texts. The hoard confirms the existence of Siva‑Sri‑Pulumavi and Skanda Satakarni and introduces lesser‑known rulers like Vijaya and Kumbha Satakarni. By comparing the legends and orthography with other finds, scholars can refine the chronology and lineage of the Satavahana dynasty. This discovery underscores the importance of numismatic evidence in reconstructing ancient Indian history.