Ancient History of the Deccan c3.s5.14

c3.s5.14

We have said that this treasure consisted of 13250 coins bearing the name of Nahapāna of which 9270 had been restruck by Gautamīputra (J. B. B. R. A. S., Vol XXII, page 224). It is remarkable that in this treasure there is not a single coin of Vāsiṣṭhīputra Puḷumāvi who, as we know, has struck coins in his own name (see: Rapson, Coins of the Āndhra dynasty, page 20). As Joghaltembhi is a village in the environs of Nāsik, we have to conclude that, after the destruction of the Śakas, it was Gautamīputra that reigned in this place and that the treasure was buried during his reign and before the accession of Puḷumāvi. But Rev. H. R. Scott who has examined the hoard of Joghaltembhi carefully has made an important remark: "Judging from the condition of the coins, I should say that they must have been a very long time in circulation and that both before and after being counter-struck (J B. B. R. A. S., Vol XXII, p. 224); and he adds "They could not have been buried earlier than 20 years after Śātakarṇi's victory". So, there is no doubt that Gautamīputra reigned in the Nāsik region for a long time, since the coins have had time to get considerably worn out. Puḷumâvi has therefore reigned at Nâsik for more than 15 years after the destruction of the Kshaharâtas.