Lot 769: India, Western Kshatrapas. Nahapana. Ca. A.D. 53-99. AR drachm.

Nahapana. Ca. A.D. 53-99. AR drachm (16 mm, 2.20 g). King's bust right, with Greek legend around / Stylized thunderbolt and arrow, with Brahmi legend Rajno Kshaharatasa Napanasa in left margin and Kharoshthi legend Rajno Chaharatasa Nahapanasa in right margin. Senior 303. A nice strike with almost complete legends. Well struck and quite nice. Toned. Very fine. 

Nahapana was the great Kshatrapa (Saka) ruler of Gujarat, Malwa and northern Konkan, who ruled for 46 years and even defeated the Satavahanas. The Kshatrapas are considered to be Indo-Scythians, though Nahapana may have had an Indo-Parthian connection.He was finally defeated by Gautamiputra Satakarni and killed along with his entire family. Nahapana's feudatory Chastana later recovered much of the former's territory and his successors ruled for another three-hundred years, until Chandragupta II Vikramaditya eventually defeated them in circa A.D. 400. 

Of Nahapana himself, his coins bear testimony to a long and successful reign that ended in tragedy.

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 769
• Listing #: 234816
• Closed: Friday, September 28, 2018 6:08:00 PM CT
• Estimate: $75