PALAS in BENGAL, circa 850-988 AD, silver drachm
$10.00
PALAS in BENGAL, circa 850-988 AD, drachm, no date, Obverse: “evolved” Sasanian bust R, Reverse: evolved fire altar, silver, 15mm, average 3.5-3.9g, MN398, G, some are cleaned
6 in stock
Description
The Pala drachms mark the eastern extent of the diffusion of the Indo-Sasanian series with its evolutions of the Sasanian coin type.
The Palas built an Empire based in Bengal and Bihar from the 8th to the 12th century AD. Wikipedia states that they were Buddhists but patronized Hinduism as well, a sort of Buddhist thing to do. They were not pacifists and defended themselves against invaders.
The earliest ancient Indian coins were the “bent bar” punchmarked silvers of the Achaemenid Persians occupying Gandhara in northwest Pakistan. By the 3rd century BC coins were in general use in most of India and Ceylon, and in subsequent centuries struck round coins in gold, silver, and copper came into use throughout the subcontinent and beyond to Southeast Asia and Pacific islands to Java and beyond.
