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Dāmasena was the uncle of Prithvisena, brother of his father Rudrasena I. He must have managed to depose Prithvisena either by force or craft. Until
recently, all his known coins titled him as mahakshatrapa, but Senior published the first known kshatrapa coin of his and another example is shown below.
Dāmasena had a reasonably long reign of about 15 years, but it appears he faced at least two rebellions, from his brother Samghadāman in 149 and
his nephew Dāmajāadasri II in 154-55. It may also be that he lost part of his territory, as none of his coins are from "mint B," while those of
Samghadāman and Dāmajāadasri II are from that mint.
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Dāmasena as kshatrapa |
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Dāmasena as kshatrapa, silver drachm
dated S. 144 (=222 CE)
Head of king right, date behind head: 144 /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa rudrasihasaputrasa rajnah kshatrapasa damasenasa
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as mahakshatrapa |
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Dāmasena as mahakshatrapa, silver drachm
dated S. 156 (=234 CE)
Head of king right, date behind head: 156 /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa rudrasihasaputrasa rajno mahakshatrapasa damasenasa
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Mahakshatrapa coins are known for each date from 145 to 158; this coin is representative. All the known coins
have the "mint A" legend in which the patronymic has the letter sa included: rudrasihasaputrasa instead of rudrasihaputrasa as it might have been
on mint B coins. |
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"Bombay" fabric |
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Dāmasena as mahakshatrapa, silver drachm
undated
Head of king right /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above, Brahmi legend around
rajno mahakshatrapasa rudrasihasaputrasa rajno mahakshatrapasa damasenasa
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The so-called "Bombay fabric" coins are coins that have been found in the Borivali area of Bombay and in
Ahmedabad. They are lighter (about 1.8 gm instead of the usual 2.2 gm.), smaller, undated, and lack the remnants of the circular Greek legend seen on the normal
coins. The Brahmi legend on the reverse is also frequently blundered. This coin has a proper legend with no mistakes, but other coins often mis-spell the name
Damasena in various ways. The Bombay fabric coins are known for several kings and are still not properly studied. |
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Potin coins |
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Time of Dāmasena, potin unit
dated S. 153 (= 235 CE)
Elephant standing right, sun and moon above /
Chaitya (3-arched hill), river below, crescent moon and sun above,
date below: 153
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From the time of Rudrasena I, the Western Kshatrapas started issuing these attractive potin coins that were
dated but otherwise anonymous. From the date of this coin, we know it was issued at the time of Damasena, but cannot be sure whether it was issued under his
authority. |
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