The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s2.t2.9

v2.c17.s2.t2.9

When Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi found a silver currency so profusely in circulation in the new provinces annexed by him, did he himself then proceed to issue his own independent silver coinage? It is by no means improbable that he did so, and in fact a unique silver coin was published by the present writer, which has on it an incomplete legend containing the word *Gotami*. But Gautamīputra was also the matronymic of a later ruler named Yajñaśrī, and since the legend on the piece in question is incomplete, it is difficult to say whether it contained or did not contain the name Yajña-śrī. Gautamīputra Yajñaśrī’s silver coinage, however, has usually a bust on the obverse and is therefore of a different type; it is thus not improbable that the present coin may indeed have been struck by Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi. We describe the coin below.