India – Chutus of Mula (c. AD 150)
Lead Coin – Tree and Flag Type
MS1 42+ – Ex. Robert Tye Collection
A rare and intriguing lead coin from the Chutu dynasty of Mula, issued around c. AD 150 in the Deccan region of ancient India. The Chutus were a regional power associated with the western Deccan and are known primarily through their distinctive coinage and inscriptions, which provide valuable insight into the political landscape of early historic India.
This substantial lead issue features a reverse design depicting a sacred tree and flag, motifs commonly associated with ancient Indian religious and dynastic symbolism. The use of lead as a coinage metal was particularly characteristic of several Deccan kingdoms, where local availability of the metal and regional trade practices influenced monetary production.
The Chutu coinage tradition reflects the continuation of indigenous Indian monetary customs during a period when the subcontinent was connected through extensive commercial networks involving the Roman world, Central Asia, and neighboring Indian kingdoms. These large lead coins are highly collectible for their rarity, distinctive fabric, and importance in understanding early Deccan history.
This example is cataloged as MS1 42+ and comes ex. Robert Tye Collection, adding desirable provenance from the respected collector and researcher specializing in Asian coinage.
Dynasty: Chutus of Mula
Date: c. AD 150
Region: Deccan, India
Denomination: Lead Coin
Type: Tree and Flag Reverse
Reference: MS1 42+
Metal: Lead
Weight: 15.3 grams
Dimensions: 27.71 × 28.27 mm
Provenance: Ex. Robert Tye Collection
A rare ancient Indian lead coin representing the regional coinage traditions of the Deccan and the rich cultural history of early South Asia.
