A silver coin of king Prasannamatra, the grandfather of king Maha Sudevaraja of Sarabhapur
Summary
A silver coin attributed to Prasannamatra, the grandfather of King Maha Sudevaraja of Sarabhapur, was discovered by a gold-dust-washer woman near the deserted village of Salhepdli, located on the bank of the Mandha River, a tributary of the Mahinadi in Raigarh State. The coin, round and bearing inscriptions and carvings on one side only, features a bust alongside symbols including a discus, conch, and the top portion of a mace. It is composed primarily of silver but exhibits a faint gold polish. The inscription, deciphered as "Prasannamatra," is written in box-headed characters, a script also found in copper charters of Maha Sudevaraja and his uncle Mahadivaraja, issued from Sarabhapur. Scholars have debated the identity of the bust, with some suggesting it represents Garuda, aligning with the Sarabhapur kings' apparent affiliation with the Vaishnavite sect, similar to their overlords, the Somavami kings of Sripur and the Harsa Gupta kings of Mahad Kosala. The coin's design resembles a seal described by Dr. Hultzsch, linked to Mahasiva Tivararaja, further supporting the Sarabhapur kings' subordination to the Somavami rulers. The exact dates of the box-headed characters and the rulers of Sarabhapur remain undetermined, though some scholars place the script between the 6th and 9th centuries.
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Conclusion
This discovery of Prasannamatra's silver coin, the first of its kind in India featuring box-headed script, offers critical insights into the political and cultural dynamics of early medieval Odisha. The coin's unique iconography—depicting a bust (potentially Garuda or Lakshmi), discus, conch, and mace—suggests strong Vaishnavite affiliations and possible ties to the Somavamsi rulers of Sripur. Its discovery near Salhepdli, linked to Sarabhapur, reinforces the region's role as a vassal state assisting the Mahan Kosala kingdom. The coin's design parallels seals from Mahasiva Tivararaja, further solidifying the Sarabhapur dynasty's subordination to the Somavamsi overlords. This find enriches our understanding of regional power structures, religious patronage, and the chronology of box-headed script usage in 10th-century Odisha, while highlighting the interconnectedness of local and imperial authorities during this period.