Pre-Satavahana, Monarchical coinage of Vidrabha region, King Subena, Copper Alloyed, 6.63g, Obv: Man standing with bent knees on a lotus, holding staff and water pot, small Shrivatsa to right, Brahmi legend “Raño Subena…” to left, inscribed vertically, Rev: Bull standing facing right, with a large wheel having arrowed spokes above its back. To right, a cockerel standard (Kukkuta Dhwaja) in railing (Pieper# 2451). Extremely fine, extremely rare.
Subena appears to be an independent local ruler in Eastern Vidarbha and his coins show great similarity with those of Suryamitra and Satyabhadra II, the two local rulers. We know Suryamitra was a close contemporary of Satavahana king Satakani. Subena was perhaps a slightly earlier ruler. His name indicates his association with river Bena, which was a major river in the region (present-day Wainganga).