Ancient India ; Dynasty: Chandellas of Jejakabhukti ; Ruler: Sallakshana Varman Deva ; Reigned: 1097 – 1100 CE / 1097 – 1110 CE

Description

Ancient India,
Dynasty: Chandellas of Jejakabhukti,
Ruler: Sallakshana Varman Deva,
Reigned: 1097 – 1100 CE / 1097 – 1110 CE,
Metal: Au Gold (high gold content as it’s an early issue for this ruler),
Denomination: Unit / Dinara,
Weight: 4.12 Grams (later series weight goes below 4 grams generally),
Condition: Extremely Fine+ for this ruler, uncleaned & in its natural state of preservation, complete & deep strike with deity seen in full on flan,
Rarity: Very Rare in such a grade as it’s an early series issue for this ruler with higher gold purity,
Attribution: John Deyell, Living Without Silver, 136; MNI 403.
Obverse: Seated Goddess Gaja Lakshmi facing with two elephants clearly seen showering the deity from both the sides.
Reverse: Devanagari legend in three lines: Srimat Sa/llakshana Va/rmma Deva.
P.S: As there are so many legends on three lines still this specimen accommodates almost all the legends on flan. This is one specimen which has complete Gaja Laxmi on flan with the two showering elephants clearly seen, they’re usually truncated or off-flan on almost all the other specimens. The deity is beautifully depicted & seen in full on flan with both the Gaja showering on either sides of the deity. An exceptional deep strike almost all the devices on flan. It’s an attractive specimen with almost complete legends & devices boldly & deeply struck in high relief. Very rare to get this specimen in an uncleaned & natural state of preservation, in superb grade which is hard to come by.
The Chandellas were the builders of the famous erotic Khajuraho temples.
Sallakshana Varman’s gold coins are very rare. Deyell recorded only five specimens in his research & documentation for his world renowned catalogue.
It is difficult to find the complete letter Sa on the first line – even Deyell thought the letter was Ha because it was not fully visible on his specimens that he had access to & studies over a period of time for documenting this rulers specimens for his catalogue & research. However the Devanagari Sa is almost complete on this specimen. “SAVE HERITAGE SAVE COINS”