History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c14.s2.37

c14.s2.37

17. Let us take a series of coins which, in my opinion, belongs to this early Nāga dynasty. Some of the coins are generally assigned to Mathurā. In the British Museum there are coins of Śeshadāta, Rāmadāta¹ and Śiśu-chandra-dāta. The script of the Śeshadāta coin is the oldest and belongs to the first century B.C. In the same series there are coins of Rāmadāta. These three kings, in my opinion, are identical with Śeṣha-Nāga, Rāma-chandra and Śiśu-Nandi of this dynasty. Amongst themselves they are connected by their coinage—a fact already recognised.² The coins of Śesha and Śiśu are intimately connected with those of Virasena, as already pointed by Prof. Rapson (J.R.A.S., 1900, page 115). Virasena's coin, reproduced by Prof. Rapson, has a serpent rising over the throne, on which is seated a female figure holding a jar in her up-raised right hand, the figure being evidently that of Gaṅgā. Another coin of Virasena, reproduced by General Cunningham, has a nāga standing by a male figure. The Nāga figures there, on the analogy of the coins of Nava Nāga (§ 20), complete the name as ‘Virasena Nāga’. The *Vrisha* or Nandi, serpent and *triśūla* are prominent on the Nāga coins.