The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s2.t15: (11) The coinage of the Śilāhāras
The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s2.t15
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(11) The coinage of the Śilāhāras
v2.c17.s2.t15.1
Certain feudatory families of the Deccan also minted scanty coinages during our period. Among these are the Śilāhāras of Western India. King Chhittarāja of the Thana branch of this family issued silver coins of the Gadhāiya type with the bust of the king on the obverse and his own name in two lines, *Śri-Chhittarāja-deva*, on the reverse. A hoard of his coins was discovered below a gutter in Thana (Bombay State).
v2.c17.s2.t15.2
Two inscribed gold coins came to light during the excavations at Kolhapur in the year 1946. Their weight is 22.5 grains and they have symbols on both sides. On the obverse there is a trident with a hand, whose forks enclose the Sun and the Moon. The reverse shows the figure of a standing Garuḍa facing right, with legs bent, carrying a flowing banner in his left hand and a serpent in his right.¹
v2.c17.s2.t15.3
¹ JNSI, xiv, 15, pl. iv, 14.
v2.c17.s2.t15.4
The Śilāhāras had Garuḍa as their *lāñchhana*, and thus the reverse motif of these coins and their findspot would seem to indicate that they might have been issued by the Śilāhāras. As, however, they do not bear any legend, it is difficult to ascribe them to any particular ruler.