Los 6776

Base gold Dinar of 'Ratnattraya' type (700-800 AD), 5.57 g. (MBLA82; Mahlo App. 4.9.1; ZENO296405) - Obv: Avalokiteshwara 'Manjushri', seated cross-legged on lotus, holding sword, flanked by flaming Trisula and sword; brahmi legend Ratnattraya above / Rev: Cow and calf seated in couchant position, cow turning its head to lick the calf; a crescent moon with a dot above and stylised representation of a mountain below - of the highest rarity, only few known, VF, this is one of the rare numismatic instances showing vivid representations from the Tantric Buddhist Vajrayana pantheon. Mahasthangarh in the Samatata region was an important centre of this vehicle of Buddhism. The legend 'Ratnattraya' refers to the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The flaming sword emblem might refer to the issuing dynasty, the Khadgas. Ex Sri Ksetra