THE SOUTHERN INDIA
Satavahanas or Andhras
The fall of the Mauryan empire and the confusion caused due to it gave birth to a new dynasty called Satavahanas, also called as Andhra dynasty. They ruled Andhra desha including Deccan for nearly four hundred years. Though there were many principalities on the delta of Godhavari and Krishna rive since Chandragupta Mauryan time, it was Simukha who unified them into a single kingdom in the 3rd century BC, and thus laid the foundation of Satavahana dynasty.Simukha laid the foundation of Satavahana dynasty in about 235 BC, and ruled for 23 years. His successor Kanha (212 - 195 BC) extended the territory as far as Nasik. The next ruler Satakarni-I was probably a son of Kunala. Though he ruled for only two years, he achieved a lot. He conquered Western Malwa, and even performed Asvamedha and Rajasuya Yaga. It is possible that Satakarni was killed in the battle field. The next successors of Satakarni-I were his two minor sons Vedistri and Satisiri with the help of their mother Nayanika.
Satakarni-II ruled from about 166 to 111 BC. He extended the boundaries of his realm far into central India across the Vindhyas, perhaps up to the river Ganges. He ruled Andhras for nearly fifty six years. The next important ruler of the dynasty was Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni and he ruled from about 70 AD to 95 AD. He brought large territory under his rule, he overthrew Nahapana, the Saka chief in the 18th year of his reign. He was not only a warrior, he was equal to the tasks of peace. He reformed the society of its abuses and upheld the interests of his subject.
Pulumayi-II succeeded Gatamiputra Satakarni, and ruled from about 96 AD to 119 AD. He took the empire to its zenith. More than what he inherited, he expanded it further to the south. History says that he was a contemporary of Chastana, he enlarged the Stupa of Amaravathi. He was succeeded by Siri Satakarni who seems to have reigned for a long term of 29 years (from 120 - 149 AD). Rudradaman was his father-in-law. The prosperous economy explains the abundant coinage of him. The next ruler Siva Siri Pulumayi ruled from about 150 to 156 AD. The revenge for the defeat of Nahapana by the Satavahana snatched Anupa region by Rudradaman. However, Rudradaman failed to recover Asika, Asaka, Mulaka and Kuntala. His ship-marked coins suggest extensive maritime trade during his reign. His son Siri-Sivakhada Satakarni succeeded and ruled from 157 to 159 AD.
Sri Yana came to the throne about 160 AD and ruled up to 189 AD. His abundant coins bearing the legend Sri-Yana explains prosperity of his empire. But at the end of his reign, Abhiras broke the unity of the Deccan by taking the region around Nasik. The next ruler Madhariputra Svami Sakasena succeeded Sri Yana. He minted coins bearing lions and elephant motif on it. With him passed away the age of the great Satavahanas and by the end of the 2nd century A.D., the rule of the Satavahanas became a history of the past. The empire was disrupted, and divided into five minor dynasties, namely Chutus, Pallavas, Ikshvakus, Abhiras....
COINAGE
The earlier Satavahanas of Junnar struck mainly a smaller sized potin coins (alloy of Copper and Iron). The obverse typically had a major device "Lion in a standing pose, facing left with 3 arched hill between its legs". The legend such as "Rano Sri Satavahanasa" surrounded the lion and the reverse carried the typical Ujjain symbol ( + symbol with spotted circle at the four end). In between 65 AD and 90 AD, Sakas and Chutus occupied Junnar, and the coinage did see slight variation, with a swapping of legend in their name. Of the later Satavahanas, Pulumavi too issued similar "Lion type" coins, and the legend turned out to be "Rano Sri Pulumavisha".
Satavahanas, north of Karnataka (of the river Krishna) issued fairly neater coins. The early ruler Gautamiputra Satakarni issued silver drachms similar in style to Western Kshatrapas. The obverse bore the portrait and surround legend, and the reverse carried the Ujjain symbol, Chaitya, River embedded in the Brahmi legend engraved in the periphery. Some of Gautamiputra's coins were restruck on Chastana's coins (Saka). Vasistaputra Pulumavi and Vasistaputra Siva Sri Satakarni issued drachms similar in style. The same design was followed by their rulers just replacing the legend in their favour, exceptions are some in which the obverse shows "Elephant with raised trunk, sometime facing left, sometime facing right", the reverse with Ujjain symbol.