Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1206. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $280. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

[Ancient] INDIA, Post-Gupta Kingdoms. Ratas of Samatata. "Sri Jaya"?. Circa 650-680 AD. AV Dinar (5.45 g, 11h). King standing left, holding bow and arrow; spiral standard to left, "ja ya"(?) in right field / Schematic goddess standing right with flowing cloak. For similar coins of Sri Jivadharana, see Mukherjee, Post-Gupta pl. V, 1; Mitchiner, Land 64; ATEC 5275. Good VF. ($300)

The genealogy of the Rata dynasty is only known from one copper dedicatory plate, found at Kailain in 1945. The inscription mentions the ruling king Shridharana, his father the founder of the dynasty Jivadharana, and prince Valadhrana. Coins are only known of the first two rulers, and it is not clear if Valadhrana came to the throne before the Ratas were supplanted by the Khadga kings sometime before 680 AD. The crude legend on this coin does not appear to match the "ji va" of Sri Jivadharana, but there is no evidence for a king Jaya(dhrana) in the chronology. A coin worthy of further study.