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THE SOUTHERN INDIA
The Vishnukundins

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After the decline of Satavahanas, the Andhras was ruled by the Ikshvakus and later by the Vishnukindins.  The Vishnukundins rose to power around 5th century AD and ruled from Vinukonda of Andhra.  The most powerful Vishnukundin king was Madhavavarman - I.  It is assumed that the Vishnukundins assumed independence from the Pallavas between 450 AD and 500 AD.  Earlier to it, probably Vinukonda was governed by the Vishnukundin family members under the suzerainty of Pallavas.

The Vishnukundins minted coins using a unique method: First, the circular coin flan was produced by the casting process and later, the designs and symbols were die- struck on the coin.  Unlike the predecessor - Ikshvakus, the Vishnukundins produced coins in copper and potin, not in lead. The designs and motifs on the coins of Vishnukundins shows that Satavahanas coinage might have inspired them. The earliest of Vishnukundin coins feature the humped bull.  The majority of the Vishnukundin coins, however, portray a lion standing right with a twisted and uplifted tail and an open mouth. The lion was the dynastic emblem of the Vishnukundins.

A new type of Vishnukundin coin has been discovered recently in which, the obverse featured a bearded warrior riding on a caparisoned horse. The warrior has a long cap, coat and trousers besides ear-rings.  This seems to be the earliest coin of the South India showing a warrior on
horseback.

The reverse of the Vishnukundin coins mostly carried sankh shell between two lamps.  Varieties of the coin reverses carried the pot with surmounted flames.  The pot may represent a fire altar or a fire pot from which, as per legend, the remote ancestors of the Vishnukundins emerged.  In sanskrit, it is referred as Poorna Kumbha - the pot overflowing with flowers and coins.  The Poorna Kumbha signifies auspiciousness, prosperity and joy. Other religious motifs such as Swastika, sun, crescent, moon, conch and wheel could be seen on their coins.