Coinage System

• Coins made of copper, bronze, and potin (a combination of copper, tin, and lead) were issued. The majority of the coins made by the Satavahana kings were made of lead. Karshapanas, silver coins, were also used in trade.
• The names “Satakarni” and “Pulumavi” were engraved on the coins with various animal images.
• Most Satavahana coins had an elephant, horse, lion, or Chaitya on their reverse. The Ujjain emblem, a cross with four circles at the ends of the two crossing lines, was displayed on the opposite side. The language used was Prakrit

 Architecture:

• The Amaravati Stupa’s sculptures serve as a visual representation of the architectural evolution of the Satavahana eras. They constructed 95-foot-tall Buddhist stupas in Amravati.
• Additionally, they built numerous stupas at Shri Parvatam, Amravati Bhattiprolu, Gantasala, Jaggiahpeta, and Goli.
• Satavahana patronized the Ajanta paintings in caverns IX and X.The older brick and wood structures were replaced with stone works as Ashokan Stupas were expanded.

The Amravati Stupa and the Nagarjunakonda Stupa are two of the most well-known stupas among these monuments.

• Rock-cut structures: In the northwest of the Deccan, chaityas and viharas were carved out of solid rock. Chaitya served as the place of worship, whereas monks resided in viharas (monasteries). Eg. Karle Chaitya in Ajanta Caves.

Decline of Satavahanas:

• • Weak succession: Yajnashri Satakarni’s successors were incapable of leading the empire. He was the final strong Satavahana emperor.
  • Huge empire: There was split the kingdom among themselves.

• Loss of centralized power

• Empire fragmentation: Following Pulumavi IV’s demise, the Satavahana empire was divided into five more compact kingdoms:
• Thus the Ikshvaku dynasty’s kings succeeded the Satavahana kings.