Comments
NEPAL: Lichhavis, Sri Mananka (c. 576-605) AE pana. RARE!
Obverse Lion standing left with front paw raised, standard before, Brahmi legend above: sri mananka, dotted border around
Reverse Female deity seated facing on lotus flower, right hand raised, left hand at hip, Brahmi legend at right: sri bhogini, dotted border around
Date c. 576-605
Weight 15.57 gm.
Diameter 27 mm.
Die axis 12 o'clock
Reference MNI 197, RGV 1
Comments
This is the one of the earliest known coin types of the Lichhavis. Rhodes et. al. argue that these coins bearing the legend sri mananka were probably issued during the reign of Sivadeva I. The term mananka means "the mark of Mana" and probably refers to the king Manadeva, who ruled c. 464-505, and whose mark must have been the lion. The coins couldn't have been minted that early, however, because of the close relationship they bear with coins bearing the legend sri amshuvarman, which must have been issued by Amshuvarman during his reign, c. 605-621. Amshuvarman was Sivadeva's Chief Minister and it is possible that he, as the real power behind the throne, did not permit the placing of Sivadeva's name on the coins, opting instead for the nostalgic Mananka.
Although we cannot see the standard before the lion on this coin, we can infer it is there because only the coins with the standard were as heavy as this example.
