Kumaras in Western Maharashtra, Junnar region, c.70-80AD, Kumara Mula, Alloyed Copper, 4.86g, Lion type, Obv: Characteristic maned Lion standing facing left, a three-arched hill below its belly and a ploughshare standard in a railing in front (both partly visible), Brahmi legend “Kumarasa Mu(la)…” above. The coin is countermarked by a Swastika just above the neck of the lion, Rev: Strung bow and arrow partly visible. Very fine, extremely rare. The Kumaras under Isamula extended their sway into the region of Junnar taking advantage of the Kshaharata – Satavahana conflict in mid-1st century AD. Although most coins of this opportunist king mention his name as ‘Kumara Isamula’, rare examples also bear a truncated version, ‘Kumara Mula’. The fact that the coin is countermarked by a Swastika suggests its revalidation perhaps under the Satavahanas, when the region was cleared of Kshaharata occupation towards the end of the 1st century AD.