INDIA, Post-Mauryan (Malwa). Ujjain. 1st century BC. AE (Bronze, 14 mm, 3.00 g). Lord Shiva standing facing, head to right, placing both hands on his hips; to left, three-arched hill. Rev. Four-orbed Ujjain symbol with a footprint in each angle. Pieper 274. Cleaning scratches, otherwise, about very fine.


This interesting example shows Lord Shiva placing his hands akimbo, a posture indicating readiness to fight an enemy. Right before the goddess Ganga poured water on the earth and risked destroying it, Shiva stood akimbo in order to tame the water masses. The depiction of a footprint (paduka) of a certain god, as on the reverse of this coin, is a special sign of worshipping of the deity.