TH E

DOMINIONS,
SOUTH
B Y MAJ OR R .

zyxwvu

EMBLEMS,
I N D I AN

AN D

COI N S

OF

TH E

D YN A S T I E S .

P . J ACKSON, Indian

Arm y

{Retired).

- E lit t le t h a t is kn own of t h e h ist or y of Sou t h er n In d ia in

a n cien t t im es h a s b een d er ived ch iefly from in scr ip t ion s on
cop p er a n d st on e, an d t h is is va lu a b le a s it is t r u st wor t h y ;
an d t h e le ge n d s on coin s h a ve a lso filled u p m a n y ga p s in
I n d ia n h ist or y.

T h e n a m e h ist or y ca n n ot in a n y p r op er sen se of t h e

t er m b e a p p lied to t h e n u m er ou s fabu lou s wor ks com p osed b y t h e

Br a h m in s, wh o wer e t h e on ly d ep osit or ies of lea r n in g in th e ea r ly d ays.
O n e cea ses to m a r vel at t h e en or m ou s n u m b er of an cien t coin s
foun d

in Sou t h er n

d yn a st ies wh ich

I n d ia after

h a ve

r eign ed

p er u sin g t h e list of th e

n u m er ou s

t h er e at va r iou s tim es, esp ecia lly as

t h e issu e of a n ew co in a ge wa s on e of t h e first a ct s of a n ew ruler,

wh ich , p a ssin g from h a n d to h an d, p r ocla im ed to all th e ch a n ge in t h e
gover n m en t .

M a n y of t h ese a n cien t coin s ar e a va ila b le at th e p r esen t

clay, wh ich is d u e ch iefly to t h e h oa r d in g p r op en sit ies of th e Asia t ic,

wh o u su a lly m a kes Mot h er E a r t h h is b a n ker .

T h e cu st om of go in g on

p ilgr im a ge, t h e b r e a k in g ou t of wa r b et ween n eigh b ou r in g st a t es, an d

t h e su d d en in cu r sion s of en em ies in t h ose u n set t led tim es, n ecessit a t ed
t h e con cea lm en t

of

m on ey.

If it h a p p en ed

t h at th e p eop le

wh o

con cea led t h e va lu a b les wer e killed , a s t h ey often wer e, it was r eser ved
for th e p lou gh m a n , t h e bu ild er , th e well-d igger , or t h e action of th e
r ain to b r in g th e h id d en wea lt h to ligh t .
o

T h e con str u ction of can als

an d r a ilwa ys u su a lly yield s som e coin s, m a n y of wh ich soon find t h eir

wa y to t h e H in d u m on ey-ch a n ger , an d as h e will n ot m elt u p a coin
b e a r in g an im a ge, it is p u t asid e for sale or con ver sion in to an
or n a m en t . Co in collect or s in In d ia ar e a llowed to p u r ch a se sp ecim en s

yxvutsron
zyxwvutsr
The

296

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

from t h e Ca lcu t t a a n d Bo m b a y m in t s from t h e coin s sen t to go ve r n -

m en t a s t r ea su r e t r ove, after cer t ain m u seu m s an d societ ies h a ve m a d e

t h eir select ion .

R a r e coin s a r e often ob t a in a b le in t h is wa y at ve r y

r ea son a b le p r ices.

TH E

M O N E T AR Y

S YS T E M

AND

E AR L I E S T

CO I N S OF S O U T H E R N

I N D I A.

In or d er t o u n d er st a n d t h e m on et a r y s ys t em of Sou t h er n I n d ia a

zyxwvu

k n o wle d ge of t h e we igh t st a n d a r d s of t h e a n cien t coin s is in d isp en sa b le.

T h e r at i seed , t h e b a sis of t h e m et r ic syst em of N o r t h e r n In d ia, wa s
n ot u sed in t h e sou t h in ea r ly tim es.

I n So u t h e r n I n d ia t h e m on et a r y

syst em wa s b a sed u p on t h e we igh t s of t wo kin d s of seed s of in d igen ou s

or igin , viz., t h e

M a n ja d i

( A d en a t h er a pavonine1),

we igh in g

a b ou t

5 gr a in s t r oy, an d t h e I va la n ju or M o lu cca b ea n (Ccesalp in ia bonduc),

we igh in g

10 m a n ja d is or 50 gr a in s . 1

p r od u ct s

offered

a r ea d y exp ed ien t

Th es e
for

well-kn own

d et er m in in g t h e

ve ge t a b le
r eq u ir ed

p r op or t ion of a p iece of silver , bu t t h e in con ven ien ce of u s in g seed s,

wh ich

differed

eq u iva len t s.
to

be

sligh t ly in we igh t , led t o t h e in t r od u ct ion of m et a l

T h e p u n ch -m a r ked silver coin s of t h e sou t h a r e su p p osed

the

eq u iva len t

of

th e

k a la n ju

in

weigh t .

Th e

glo b u la r

p r ot ot yp e of t h e p a god a , wit h t h e p u n ch -m a r k in t h e cen t r e, we igh e d

u n d er

52

gr a in s.

Th e

go ld

fan am

of

So u t h e r n

I n d ia wa s

the

eq u iva len t in we igh t t o t h e m a n ja d i seed , a n d t h e go ld h un , va r a h a ,

or p a go d a (ten t im es t h e weigh t of t h e fan am ) t h e eq u iva len t to t h e
ka la n ju seed .
Silve r wa s t h e m et a l first u sed in I n d ia for m on et a r y p u r p oses,
t h e a m ou n t of b u llion t o b e give n a s a m ed iu m of e xch a n ge b e in g
a d ju s t ed b y we igh t .

T o p r even t t h e fr equ en t u se of scales, un ifor m

p ieces of t h e r eq u ir ed we igh t wer e cu t a n d even t u a lly im p r essed wit h

a sym b ol.

T h e y we igh a b ou t 50 gr a in s, a n d a s t h er e a r e n o silver

m in es in I n d ia t h e m et a l m u st h a ve b een im p or t ed .

T h e y a r e said t o

b e of Bu d d h is t or igin , wh ich r eligion wa s in t r od u ced in t o So u t h e r n

I n d ia in t h e r eign of As o k a after t h e t h ir d Bu d d h is t cou n cil wa s h eld
1

Elliot , Coins of Southern India, p . 4 7.

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
27

(24 6 B.C.), wh en m ission a r ies wer e sen t to Maisu r , Ka n a r a , an d t h e

D a k h a n to p r op a ga t e t h e faith.
T h e s e coin s a r e in va r ia b ly d evoid of a n y in scr iption .

T h e ear liest

s p ecim en s b ea r n o m a r k or d evice of a n y sort, bu t t h e lat er , called

"p u n ch - m a r ke d "

coin s, h a d

p u n ch an d a h am m er .

d evices

st a m p ed

u p on

t h em

with

T h e y ar e of all s h a p e s o b lo n g, squ ar e, or

n ea r ly r ou n d -bu t t h e gr e a t e r p or t ion of t h em a r e r ect a n gu la r , wit h

t h e cor n er s som et im es cu t to give

t h em

t h e exa ct

weigh t .

Th e

r ect a n gu la r coin s ar e t h ou gh t to be of ear lier d at e t h a n t h e cir cu lar

sp ecim en s, t h e m et a l of wh ich is m or e d ebased .

Th e

su r faces

ar e

co ve r e d all over wit h d evices an d sign s wit h ou t an y or d er , an d wh ich ,

a p p a r en t ly, wer e n ot p u n ch ed
o ve r la p

ea ch

ot h er .

Th e

at on e tim e, as m an y of t h e d evices

sign s

m a y be t h e m a r ks

of su ccessive

r u ler s, to give a sor t of sa n ct ion to t h e cu r r en cy, or of ban ker s, wh o

p u t t h eir own st a m p u p on t h em as a gu a r a n t ee of t h e p u r it y of th e
m et a l.

T h e s e coin s ar e foun d all over In d ia, an d h a ve b een d iscover ed

in

p r im it ive

the

cit ies.

t om b s (kist va en s)

of t h e

It is t h ou gh t t h at t h ey r em a in ed

Da k h a n

an d in bu r ied

in cir cu lation un til abou t

A.D. 3OO.

" P u n ch -m a r ked " go ld coin s a r e also foun d in Sou t h er n In dia,

b u t t h ey a r e of m u ch gr e a t e r

r a r it y t h an t h e silver m on ey.

Th e

old est sp ecim en s a r e " sp h er u les, qu it e p lain an d sm oot h , with t h e

e xce p t io n of a m in u t e p u n ch -m a r k t oo sm all t o be

id en t ified b y

t h e im p r ess of wh ich t h ey h a ve b een sligh t ly flattened."

" P u n ch m ia r ke d " cop p er coin s ar e ve r y r ar e, t h e old est sp ecim en s
b e in g sp h er u les som ewh a t

d ep r essed

b y t h e im p act of th e p u n ch .

T h e y occu r in all weigh t s from a b ou t 3 to 60 gr a in s.

T h e followin g em b lem s a p p ea r on t h e " p u n ch - m a r k e d " coin s,
wh ich h a ve b een cla im ed a s sp ecial Bu d d h ist sym b ols, b u t t h er e is n o
a b s olu t e p r oof t h a t t h ey em a n a t ed from th at cr eed .

Mr . T h o m a s 1 st at es

t h a t t h er e is an u n d er cu r r en t of evid en ce th at t h e Scyt h ia n s in t r od u ced

t h e le a d in g id ea of Su n -wor s h ip in to In d ia p r ior to a n y Ar ya n im m igr a t ion , a n d t h a t th e Bu d d h is t s in cor p or a t ed it in to t h eir own syst em for
1

Num . Orient., "An cien t Indian Weights," pp. 62, 63.

zy

yxvutsron
zy
The

29

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

t h e s u cce s s of t h e n e w cr eed to h u m o u r t h e p r e ju d ice s of t h e m u lt it u d e.

T h e Ch a it ya , or t u m u lu s, h a d a ls o b e e n sa n ct ified

by the

Scyt h i a n s

zyxwvutsr

b efor e t h e t im e of t h e Bu d d h is t s .

I t will b e n ot iced t h a t a ll t h e d e vice s

a r e d o m e s t ic or e m b le m a t ic, " wit h in t h e m u n d a n e r a n ge of s im p le

p e o p le " :
1. T h e

Sun,

r epr esen ted

b y a r a ye d

cir cle

(t h e

ea r liest

and

co m m o n e s t ) .
2.

Stars.

3. T h e

" Chaity a"

( or igin a lly

the

nam e

o f a s a cr e d

u lt im a t e ly a p p lie d t o t h e Bu d d h is t " s t u p a ."

t r ee b u t

T h e ch a it ya or

m in ia t u r e cla y t e m p le en clos ed a s t a m p e d sea l b e a r in g t h e

r e co gn is e d Bu d d h is t for m u la ).
4. T h e " Bodhi " t r ee.
5. T h e " Caduceus," or wiza r d 's r od .
6. T h e " Chakra,"
7. T h e "

or wh e e l.

Sw astika."

T h r o u g h t h e ea r ly coin s w e t r a ce t h e h is t o r y of co in in g, in wh ich
t h e u s e o f t h e p u n ch gr a d u a lly g a ve wa y to t h e e xclu s ive e m p lo ym e n t
o f a m a t r ix or d ie.

" T h e d ie a t first wa s of t h e s im p les t for m , a n d

a p p e a r s t o h a ve b e e n a r e ve r s a l of t h e su p er ior a ct ion o f t h e p u n ch b y
s t r ik in g t h e go ld p la t e u p o n t h e s in gle s ym b o l p la ce d b elow, a n d t h e n
a d d in g t h e a d d it ion a l s ym b o ls b y t h e old -fa sh ion ed p r o ce s s a r o u n d

the

ce n t r a l d e vice , le a vi n g t h e ot h er sid e, or r ever s e, p la in , e xce p t wh e r e it

s h o ws t h e gr a in of t h e a n vil or b a sis on wh ich it r es t ed .

Th e

for ce o f

t h e b lo ws h a s in m a n y in st a n ces g i ve n t h e u p p e r sid e a co n ca ve su r fa ce.

Th i s , a lt h o u gh a ccid en t a l, a p p e a r s t o h a ve led to t h e u se of cu p - s h a p e d
d ies a t a la t er p e r io d . " 1
Aft e r t h e " p u n ch - m a r k e d " coin s t h e " d ie-in a d e " issu es ca m e in t o
u se.

T h i s n e w m e t h o d of s t r ik in g coin s wit h a d ie is said t o h a ve b een

in t r o d u ce d in t o So u t h e r n I n d ia t o ge t h e r wit h Bu d d h is m ,

" b u t H in d u s

a s a r u le a r e n ot fon d of n e w fa sh ion s, a n d e ve n if t h e y for t h e s a k e o f

e a s in e s s g a v e in t o t h e n e w m e t h o d in co in in g t h eir cop p er s, t h e y m a y
]

Elliot , Coins of Southern India, p . 54.

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
2

ve r y well h a ve con t in u ed p u n ch - m a r k in g t h eir silver coin s, co n s id e r in g

t h e old fash ion finer, in t h e s a m e wa y a s it is a fact t h a t

p u n ch - m a r ke d

go ld coin s (t h e p a d m a t a n ga s ) we r e s t r u ck e ve n cen t u r ies after t h e

m eth od

of

p u n ch - m a r k in g

co p p e r

zyxwv

and

aban d on ed .

silver

coin s

had

been

T h e " d ie- s t r u ck " Bu d d h is t co p p e r coin s a r e ge n e r a lly r ect a n gu la r

in s h a p e a n d b e a r t h e followin g d e vice s :-

Obverse.The elep h an t an d Bu d d h ist secon d a r y sym b ols, such as

th e trisul.
Reverse.The
Bu d d h ist sh accr am or ch equer ed patter n with a wa vy
lin e below.

TH E

AN D H R A

D YN AS T Y.

T h i s d yn a s t y is m e n t io n e d b y t h e G r e e k wr it er s a s a m on a r ch ica l
for m of Go ve r n m e n t , a n d n a t ive a cco u n t s a s s ign it a su ccession of t h ir t y
p r in ce s .

" T h e d yn a s t y s e e m s t o h a ve a t t a in ed

in d e p e n d e n ce soon

a ft er t h e d e a t h of As o k a , wh ich occu r r ed in 232 or 2 31 B.C., an d it la st ed

for s o m e four cen t u r ies a n d a h a lf t o a b ou t A.D. 236.

At a ve r y ea r ly

p er iod t h e An d h r a k in gs m a d e t h e m s e lve s a gr e a t p o we r , a n d e xt e n d e d
t h eir a u t h or it y a cr os s I n d ia a lo n g t h e cou r se o f t h e Go d a va r i from it s
m o u t h on t h e s h o r e s of Be n ga l t o its s ou r ce in t h e m ou n t a in s of t h e
Wester n

Gh a t s .

n or t h er n

p a r t s of M ys o r e , a n d

N a r b a d a ."3

So u t h wa r d s

t h eir

d om in ion wa s

ca r r ied

the

T h e y m o ve d a b ou t , p r o b a b ly, wit h t h eir s la ves , flocks a n d

h er d s , a s wa s t h e ge n e r a l p r a ct ice in t h os e ea r ly t im es.
sa id t o h a ve b e e n D h a n a k a k a t a , p r o b a b ly t h e m o d e r n
Th e

in t o

n or t h wa r d s, p er h a p s, so far as t h e

m a n n e r in wh ich

t h is d yn a s t y

t er m in a t ed

T h e i r ca p it a l is
Dh a r a n a kot a .

is u n kn own .

Th e

An d h r a s p r ofessed t h e faith of Bu d d h a .
" Bu t t h e coin s of t h e d yn a s t y a r e n or t h er n r a t h er t h a n sou t h er n
in t yp e , a n d , in fact, h a ve n o t h in g in co m m o n wit h t h e p ecu lia r co in a ge
of t h e sou t h .
k in gs .

T h e k n o wn e xt a n t coin s a lm os t all b e lo n g t o t h e la t er

T h e ea r liest s o ve r e ign wh o s e issu es a r e r ep r es en t ed in t h is

1
2

Loventhal, Coins of Tiiinevelly , p. 5.

Cat. Ind. Mus., vol. i, p. 208.

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

ca t a lo gu e is Siva la k u r a , son of M a t h a r i (a b ou t A.D. 8 5 - 113 )

it con t a in s t wo go o d s p e cim e n s of t h e issu e of Siva la k u r a ' s

Viliva ya k u r a

I I ., son of G a u t a m i ' ( a b o u t A.D. 113 - 3 8 ) .

p r in ce s e m it t e d a p ecu lia r ' b ow a n d a r r ow ' t yp e of

zy
but

su ccessor ,

Th ese

t h r ee

co i n a ge . " 1

T h e m et a l u s e d for t h eir coin s con sist ed of ( 1) lea d , u s u a lly d iest r u ck, (2) " p o t in ," co m p o s e d of ye llo w a n d r ed cop p er , tin , lea d , et c.,
ca st ,

and

(3)

silver ,

zyxwvuts
but

kn o wn .

on ly

t h r e e s p e cim e n s in

t h is m et a l

T h e d e vice s on t h e le a d e n coin s from t h e Kr is h n a a n d

d ist r ict s con sist o f :

ar e

Go d a va r i

Obverse.The elep h an t (com m on ), horse, lion an d ot h er an im als.

Reverse.The
Ujja in sym b ol, so called from th e old As o k a letter s
b ea r in g th at n a m e ; som etim es plain .

T h e coin s we igh fr om 35 t o 560 gr a in s ; t h e y a r e ge n e r a lly r ou n d ,

b u t s o m e t im e s s q u a r e ; t h e e le p h a n t is r u d ely r e p r e s e n t e d wit h or wit h ou t legs , a n d u s u a lly faces t h e r igh t , wit h t h e t r u n k p e n d a n t or u p r a is ed
a s in t h e a ct of sa lu t in g.

T h e m os t e xt e n s ive issu es b e lo n g t o t h e

r e ign of Ya g n a Sr i, a b ou t A.D. 18 4 - 2 13 , a n d t h e n e xt in n u m b e r t o
P u lu m a vi, a b ou t A.D. 13 8 - 70 .
T h e An d h r a co in a ge h a s b e e n d es cr ib ed in P r ofessor
British

Museum

Catalogue

TH E

From
Ch a l u k ya

of Andhra

I N D O - R O M AN

t h e d is a p p e a r a n ce
E m p i r e in t h e fifth

of

the

Rap son 's

Coins.

CO I N AGE .

An d h r a s

t o t h e r ise of

cen t u r y A.D. t h e r e is n o

the

n u m ism a t ic

r ecor d of a n y im p or t a n t d yn a s t y, a s t h e cou n t r y from t h e M a h a n a d i

t o t h e Go d a va r i wa s p r o b a b ly go ve r n e d b y loca l ch iefs.

Wh en

the

a n cien t " p u n c h - m a r k e d " silver coin s p a ssed ou t of u se, t h e cu r r e n cy

of So u t h e r n I n d ia con sist ed ch iefly of go ld ob t a in ed from t h e R o m a n
t r a d er s, wh o b r o u gh t wit h t h e m la r ge su p p lies of aurei t o e xch a n ge
for silks, m u slin s, ge m s , sp ices, ivor y, et c.
h o a r d s of aurei

F r o m t im e to t im e la r ge

h a ve b e e n u n e a r t h e d on t h e M a la b a r coa st a n d a t
1

Cat. Ind. Mus., vol. i, p. 201.

of

the

South

Indian

n u m e r o u s o t h e r p la ce s in So u t h e r n
that

t h e r e wa s

in

e a r ly ~days

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

I n d ia , from wh ich it is e vid e n t

co n s id e r a b le

in h a b it a n t s of t h a t co u n t r y a n d t h e R o m a n s .

t r a d e b e t we e n

the

A t on e t im e a fleet of

12 0 sa il wa s a n n u a lly wa ft ed b y t h e a s s is t a n ce of t h e m on s oon from

the

Red

Sea

to the

co a s t

of M a la b a r , a n d

r e gu la r

trade

wa s

e s t a b lis h e d from t h e p o r t s of E g y p t a n d t h e R e d S e a t o Mu s ir is or
Ba r a ce ( M a n ga lu r or Ba r cu r ? ) on t h e wes t er n coa st .

From

E gyp t

t h e I n d ia n p r o d u ct s we r e sh ip p ed t o I t a ly.

L a r g e q u a n t it ies of p e p p e r

we r e

at

s h ip p e d

a n n u a lly for

the

m ar kets

Rom e,

wh e r e

it

wa s

zyxwvutsrq

e s t e e m e d on e of t h e gr e a t e s t lu xu r ie s of t h e d a y.

Al l t h es e p u r ch a s e s

we r e p a id for in sp ecie, a n d t h u s t h e r e is lit t le o cca s io n for su r p r ise a t

t h e d is co ve r y of R o m a n coin s in So u t h e r n I n d ia .

I n 18 50 a la r ge

q u a n t it y of aurei, sa id to b e n ot less t h a n five cooly- loa d s , wa s d u g ou t

o f a b e d of a r ive r n ea r Ka n n a n u r ; t h e y we r e a s fr esh a s on t h e d a y
th ey

we r e

st r u ck,

and

co n s is t e d

of

s p e cim e n s

fr om

t h e t im e

of

Au gu s t u s , 29 B.C. t o A.D. 14, t o t h a t of An t o n in u s Piu s, A.D. 13 8 - 16 1,

a n d we r e e vid e n t ly b r o u gh t t o t h e co u n t r y s u b s e q u e n t ly to, or d u r in g,
t h e r e ign of t h e la st m e n t io n e d e m p e r o r .
t r a d er s,

D r u r y1

Ca p t a in

m e n t io n s

I f n ot b r o u gh t b y R o m a n

an oth er

su p p osit ion ,

viz.,

as

to

wh e t h e r t h e y m a y n ot h a ve b e e n b r o u gh t b y t h o s e J ewish r efu gees

wh o e m igr a t e d fr om P a le s t in e a b o u t A.D. 68, a n d s p r e a d t h e m s e lve s
o ve r

t h is p a r t

of

the

con t in en t .

At

that

t im e,

P a le s t in e

b e in g

a R o m a n p r o vin ce , 10 ,0 0 0 J e ws wit h t h eir fam ilies ca m e a n d set t led

on t h e M a la b a r coa s t .

" N o w s u p p o s in g s e ve r a l em igr a t ion s of t h e

kin d t o h a ve s u cce e d e d e a ch o t h e r a n d t a ke n p la ce d u r in g t h e t h ir d
a n d fou r t h cen t u r ies, it is n ot u n lik e ly t h a t t h es e coin s m a y h a ve b e e n
b r o u gh t b y t h em , a n d e it h e r fr om su ffer in g p er s ecu t ion or op p r ession
a t t h e h a n d s of t h e n a t ives , t h e y m a y h a ve b u r ied t h ese t r ea su r es for
gr e a t e r s e cu r it y or co n ce a lm e n t ."

As all t h ese coin s wer e d is cover ed

in t h e in t er ior of t h e cou n t r y, t h e y we r e p r o b a b ly con cea led b y t h e

n a t ive a ge n t s o f t h e R o m a n m er ch a n t s .
u n ear th ed

Silve r R o m a n coin s a r e often

in I n d ia , m a n y of t h e m s h o win g s ign s of h a vin g b e e n in

a ct ive cir cu la t ion ; t h o s e of Au g u s t u s a n d Tib e r iu s a r e t h e co m m o n e s t .

J.R.A.B.,

1851, vol. xx, pp. 376-380 .

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and Coins

zy

I n t h e r eign of J u st in ia n t h e Ro m a n E m p ir e wa s in its d eclin e,

and

the

m a r it im e

traffic

over t h ese sea s b e in g su ccessfu lly

p eop le, t h e

d ea lin gs wit h

Rom an s

finally

a b a n d on ed

d isp u t ed

t h eir

by a

com m er cia l

I n d ia .

T h e r e is, h owever , a n ot h er t yp e of coin , Ro m a n b eyon d d ou bt ,

b u t q u it e d ist in ct from a n y t yp e foun d in E u r o p e .

T h i s ser ies con sist s

of lit t le cop p er p ieces fou n d in a n d a r ou n d Ma d u r a , wh ich Ca p t a in

Tu fn ell h a s a t t r ib u t ed t o a local m in t in I n d i a : " T h e y a r e n ot t h e
kin d of m o n e y t h a t on e wou ld e xp e ct t h e r ich R o m a n m er ch a n t to
b r in g in p a ym en t for t h e lu xu r ies of t h e E a s t , bu t sm all in sign ifican t
cop p er coin s, sca r ce t h e size of a q u a r t er of a far t h in g, a n d closely
r es em b lin g t h e ea r ly issu es of n a t ive m in t s

. . .

I h a ve n ever

ye t h ea r d of t h e d iscover y in So u t h e r n I n d ia of a n y of t h ose fine

cop p er

coin s (kn own as is t an d 2n d b r a ss)

an d, after all,

wh a t m or e n a t u r a l t h an th at, as t r a d e in cr ea sed an d E a s t e r n lu xu r ies

b eca m e m or e an d m or e p op u la r wit h t h e fair d a m es of Rom e, sm all
set t lem en t s of a gen t s sh ou ld b e est a b lish ed to collect on t h e sp ot t h e
p r od u ce of t h e cou n t r y, an d co n ve y it to t h e sh ip s of t h eir em p loyer s
on t h eir p er iod ica l visit s to t h e p or t s of call

Lo o k in g, th en , to

t h e facts t h a t all t h e coin s of t h is ser ies ar e well wor n as t h o u gh t h ey

h ad b een in r egu la r cir cu lation , t h a t t h ey a r e of a t yp e differin g from
t h ose u su al to t h e I m p er ia l m in ts, t h a t t h ey a r e of so sm all a va lu e as to be
wh a t on e wou ld e xp e ct to find in u se wh e n d ea lin g wit h a p eop le as
p oor a s t h e ea r ly H in d u s, th at t h ey a r e foun d alm ost exclu s ively in on e
loca lit y, t h at t h ey a r e con st a n t ly b e in g foun d an d n ot occu r r in g in a
glu t a t in t er m it t en t p e r io d s s u r e ly all t h ese a r gu m en t s p oin t to t h e
p ossib le, if n ot, in d eed , t h e p r ob a b le, tr u th of t h e t h eor y t h a t t h ey wer e
of loca l m in t a ge.

O n t h e ob ver s e of all t h a t I h a ve m et a p p ea r s an

em p er or 's h ea d , bu t so wor n t h at with

featu r es a r e well-n igh ob lit er a t ed .

on e or t wo excep t ion s

the

In on e or t wo sp ecim en s a fain t

t r a ce of an in scr ip tion a p p ea r s r u n n in g r ou n d th e ob ver se, but h it h er t o

I h a ve n ot com e a cr oss a sin gle sp ecim en in wh ich m or e t h a n on e or
t wo let t er s a r e d ist in gu ish a b le.

T h e r ever ses va r y con sid er a b ly, bu t

t h e com m on est t yp e seem s t o b ea r t h e figures of t h r ee R o m a n sold ier s

s t a n d in g

an d

h old in g

sp ea r s

in

t h eir

h an d s.

An o t h e r

b ea r s

of
r ect a n gu la r

figure

the

South

som ewh a t

Indian

r esem b lin g

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

a com p let e form

of

th e

d es ign on t h e r e ve r s e of t h e Bu d d h is t sq u a r e coin s found

in

th e

sa m e loca lit y (Ma d u r a ), wh ile m ost a r e t oo wor n to allow of even a

s u gges t ion as t o wh a t t h eir or igin a l d esign was in t en d ed to r ep r esen t .
O n on e sp ecim en t h e few d ecip h er a b le let t er s a p p ea r to form p ar t of

zyxw

t h e n a m e Th e o d o s iu s , an d t h e st yle of coin p oin t s to th e p r ob a b ilit y

of its h a vin g b een issu ed d u r in g t h e d eclin e of t h e Rom a n Em p ir e,
p ossib ly after t h e ca p it a l h a d

b een

t r an sfer r ed

to

Con st a n t in op le."

T h e r e a d in g of a R o m a n cop p er coin b elieved to be t h e issue of

Th e o d o s iu s , A.D. 393, is give n b y P r in s ep as :

Obverse.
D O S I U S . P P . . ; h ead wit h star on r igh t.
Reverse.GLORIA
R O M A N O R U M ; t h r ee st a n d in g figures ar m ed
wit h spear s.

Sir W . E lliot r efer s to t h ese d ie-st r u ck coin s of th in cop p er , wh ich

a r e foun d a lo n g t h e Co r o m a n d e l coa st from N e llo r e to Pon d ich er r y, as
follows : " T h e y a r e foun d in con sid er a b le n u m b er s in or n ear d u n es
a n d sa n d kn olls in t h e vicin it y of t h e fishing h a m let s t h at stud th e
sh or e

T h e y a r e collect ed b y t h e wives an d ch ild r en of th e

fisherm en after ga le s of win d or h e a vy r ain s, an d p u r ch a sed from t h em

b y t h e it in er an t p ed la r s in e xch a n ge for useful n ecessar ies, b y wh om
t h ey a r e sold to b r a zier s a n d cop p er sm it h s

T h e Rom a n coin s

a r e all of th e sm a llest va lu e, a n d a r e gen er a lly wor n sm oot h ."

TH E

KU R U M BAR S .

T h e cou n t r y from t h e b a se of th e t a b le-la n d to t h e Pa la r an d

P en n a r r iver s wa s occu p ied a b ou t t h e sixt h cen t u r y A.D. b y a p ast or al
r a ce ca lled Ku r u m b a r s . T h e y a r e said to h a ve d er ived t h eir n am e
from t h eir cr u elt y. T h e y for m ed a sor t of con fed er at e st a t e u n d er
chiefs, wh o r esid ed in fortified st r on gh old s. T h e y wer e J ain s, an d
car r ied on co m m e r ce b y sea. So m e of t h em sp r ea d in to t h e Dr a vid a
cou n t r y so far a s th e To n d a - M u n d a la cou n t r y.
In t h e eigh t h or n in th
cen t u r y A.D. t h ey wer e d efeat ed b y t h e To n d a m a n of Ta n jo r e . a r ela t ive
of t h e Ch o la kin g, wh o a n n exed t h eir cou n t r y to t h e Ch o la kin gd om
a n d ch a n ge d t h e n a m e to To n d a m a n d o la m .

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

zy

T h e followin g coin s, wh ich a r e foun d on t h e Co r o m a n d e l coa st

zyxw

from N e llo r e t o P o n d ich e r r y a n d in t h e vicin it y of M a h a va lip u r a m , a r e

u su a lly a t t r ib u t ed t o t h e Ku r u m b a r s , 1 wh o, at t h e p er iod a s s ign e d t o t h e

coin s, e n jo ye d a n in d e p e n d e n t e xis t e n ce in t h e Ar k a t d i s t r i c t :
1. Silve r

or

billon

coin s

a n

(r ar e), m e a s u r in g y o

we igh in g a b ou t 40 gr a in s, wit h a bu ll or h or se on t h e o b ve r s e
an d , occa sion a lly, let t er s in

t h e ca ve - ch a r a ct e r

a b o ve

the

a n im a l.
2. T h i n a n d b r it t le cop p e r coin s, of a n ir r egu la r r ou n d s h a p e wit h
t h e s a m e o b ve r s e a s t h e silver coin s, b u t s om et im es wit h t h e
a d d it ion of t h e su n a n d m oon ( d e n o t in g p e r m a n e n cy of r u le).
O n t h e r ever s e t h e com m on d e vice is a r a ye d

" ch a k r a " or

wh eel, b u t s om et im es t h er e is a tr ee, st ar , cr ab, fish or a sh ip.

T h e sh ip (th e d'honi)

is a t wo-m a s t ed co a s t in g b oa t s t e e r e d

b y m ea n s of o a r s ,fr o m t h e st er n , a n d h a s t wo wa vin g- lin es

b elow it t o r ep r esen t t h e sea .

TH E

P ALLAVAS .

T h e P a lla va kin gs r u led t h e cou n t r y from

Ca lin ga p a t a m in t h e

n or t h t o M a h a va lip u r a m in t h e sou t h , t h eir wes t er n lim it e xt e n d in g in t o

Ma is u r .

In t h e fourth cen t u r y A.D. t h e Gu ja r a t R a jp u t s of t h e Ch a lu -

k ya fam ily occu p ied p a r t of t h eir t er r it or ies sou t h of t h e Kr is h n a , a n d

in t h e s e ve n t h cen t u r y over r a n Ve n gi, t h e sea t of t h e P a lla va p r in cip a lit y, es t a b lis h in g t h e m s e lve s

at

R a ja m a h e n d r i, wh ich b e ca m e t h e

ca p it a l of t h e E a s t e r n Ch a lu k ya d yn a st y.

xA.nother P a lla va p r in cip a lit y

wa s s ea t ed at Ka n ch i (or Co n je ve r a m ) , wh ich a lso ca r r ied on a con st a n t

war far e a ga in s t t h e Ch a lu k ya s .

A list of t h e P a lla va k in gs from A.D.

20 0 t o 112 0 h a s b e e n give n b y Mr . Rice.

T h e ea r ly P a lla va k in gs

wer e Bu d d h ist s, b u t in t h e e igh t h cen t u r y Bu d d h is m d isa p p ea r ed owin g to Br a h m in ica l p er secu t ion an d th e in cr ea se of t h e J ain s.
T h e seals on t h e P a lla va gr a n t s h a ve t h e figure of a bu ll r ecu m b en t
or s t a n d in g a s on t h e Ku r u m b a r coin s.
1

T h e coin s a t t r ib u t ed t o t h is

" They may have been issued by the Kurumbas or Pallavas at Conjeveram," Elliot.

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

zyxwvuts

d yn a s t y b y E llio t h a ve , h o we ve r , t h e figu r e of a lion on t h e ob ver se.

T h e lion is often d escr ib ed a s t h e t ige r in In d ia, an d " t h e t iger b a n n er

of Ve n g i " is q u ot ed in a Ch o la in scr ip t ion of t h e eleven t h cen t u r y A.D.
1. G o l d . W e i g h t 72 gr s. Obverse.Lion
wit h p a w u p r a is ed .
2. G o l d . W e i g h t 7 - 5 gr s. Sim ila r .
3. G o l d . W e i g h t 5 7 gr s. Obverse.Lion
4. G o l d W e i g h t 59-5 gr s.
Obverse.Maned
lion t o r igh t .
Reverse.A t h r ee-s t or eyed b u ild in g.

t o left

I
f

Reverses n ot
r ead .

t o le ft ..

5. Co a r s e silver .
Obverse.Maned
lion t o r igh t .
Reverse.Vase
on a st a n d b et ween t wo la m p s t a n d s .
TH E

KADAMBAS.

T h i s d yn a st y r u led over N o r t h an d So u t h Ka n a r a an d W e s t e r n
Ma isu r .

Th e i r cap it al wa s Ba n a va s i, on th e r iver Va r a d a abou t 25

m iles n or t h -west of t h e Ge r s e p p a F a lls .

T h e cap it al wa s evid en t ly of

som e im p or t a n ce in ea r ly tim es, a s it is m en t ion ed b y P t olem y.

Rice give s a list of Ka d a m b a kin gs from A.D. 15 0 - 12 5 1.

Mr .

T h e p a lm y

d a ys of t h eir in d ep en d en ce wer e p r o b a b ly d u r in g t h e fifth an d sixt h

cen t u r ies, wh en t h er e wer e t h r ee Ka d a m b a st at es exis t in g at Ba n a va si,
Go a , a n d H a lsi.

In t h e s ixt h cen t u r y t h ese st a t es b e ca m e faithful a n d

loya l feu d at or ies of t h e Ch a lu k ya kin gs.

In th e fou r t een t h cen t u r y t h ey

wer e con q u er ed b y Bu k k a of Vija ya n a ga r a .

T h e cogn iza n ce of t h e Ka d a m b a s wa s th e figure of a lion lookin g
b a ck wa r d s ; a n ot h er of t h eir in sign ia wa s t h e m on ey-god H a n u m a n .
T h e followin g coin s h a ve b een a t t r ib u t ed to t h is d yn a s t y :
1. G o l d . W e i g h t 58 gr s. E llio t , N o . 10 .
Obverse.Unrecognizable
o b je ct in t h e cen t r e, a t eit h er sid e t h e
a r ch a ic form of t h e wor d " Sr i," b elow a va se, a b ove t h e wor d
" Vi j a ya . "
Reverse.Blank.
2. G o l d W e i g h t 54-5 gr s. E llio t , N o . 66.
Obverse.Lion in cen t r e, a r ou n d four p u n ch -m a r ks , t wo b e in g t h e wor d
" Sr i," t h e t h ir d t h e wor d Bh u ja in (?), t h e forth an a n k u s
(elep h a n t goa d ).
Reverse.Blank.
VOL. IX.

The

Dominions,

zy
zyxwv

Emblems,

and

Coins

3. G o l d . W e i g h t 58-525 gr s . E llio t , N o . 6 7.
Obverse.Lotus
in t h e cen t r e wit h four p u n ch - s t r u ck r e t r o s p e ct a n t lion s
r ou n d it.
Reverse.Scroll.
4. G o l d . Bo m b a y M u s e u m . E llio t , N o . 70 .
Obverse.Retrospectant
lion wit h Ka n a r e s e le ge n d b e lo w " Se lu ga " (?).
Reverse.Indistinct
o b je ct in cen t r e in cir cle o f d ot s su r r ou n d ed b y
a n ou t er cir cle in wh ich an o r n a m e n t r e s e m b lin g a cir cu la r b u ck le
a lt er n a t es wit h a tr efoil.
5. Go ld fa n a m . W e i g h t 2-9 gr s.
Obverse.Lion
lo o k in g t o t h e fron t.
Reverse.Undecipherable
legen d .
6. Go ld fa n a m .' W e igh t 5-9 gr s.
Obverse.Ik lion .
Reverse.An
e le p h a n t go a d .
Th e

fo llo win g

coin s h a v e

b een a ssign ed

Vishnu

Chitta-Deva,

t o t h e Kadam ba

chiefs

Goa:
A.D. 114 7 to about

118 5 .

S i l ve r . W e i g h t 37-8 gr s. C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 6.

Obverse.Ram pant
lion t o left in d o t t e d cir cle ; su n a n d m oon a b o ve ;
n a m e of J ovia n ye a r b elow ?
Reverse.-In
sq u a r e wit h m a r gin a l or n a m en t s , t h r ee lin ed le ge n d
S AS AK A GU | - - - CH I | T T A D E VAH .

Jay akesi

III.,

A.D. 118 7 to about

12 12 .

1. G o l d . W e i g h t 67-8 gr s. C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 5.

Obverse.Lion p a s s a n t t o le ft ; su n a n d m oon a b o ve ; le ge n d J A N A
in fr on t, wh ich o u gh t t o be, b u t is n ot , t h e n a m e of a ye a r of t h e
J o via n cycle .
Reverse.In
d ot t ed cir cle t h e N a ga r i le ge n d S R I S A P T A K O - |
T I S V A R A L A B D H A | - - K E - - | - - - " w h o o b t a in e d b oon s
fr om Sa p t a k o t is va r a ," i.e., Siva .
2. G o l d . Bo m b a y M u s e u m . E llio t , N o . 71.
Obverse.Lion t o left lo o k in g t o t h e fr on t ; t h e cycle ye a r " p r a m o d a " in
old N a ga r i in fr on t of lion .
Reverse. S R I - S A P T A K O T I S A - L A B D H A - V A R A - V I R A J A Y A K A [ K E ] S I D E V A - M A L A V A R A M A R I . = " T h e b r a ve
J a ya k e s id e va , t h e d es t r oyer of t h e M a la va s , wh o ob t a in ed b oon s
from t h e h o ly Sa p t a k o t is a ."

of

zyx
zyxwvuts

the

3. Go ld . E lli o t , N o. 69.

South

Indian

307

Dynasties.

Obverse.As
I, b u t fou r -lin ed N a ga r i le ge n d on r ever se S R I S AP T AKO T I S VAR A- CH AR AN A- L ABD H A- VAR A- VI R AS O Y I D E V A = " T h e b r a ve So yid e va wh o h a s ob t a in ed b oon s
from t h e feet of t h e h o ly Sa p t a k o t is va r a ."

T H E CH AL U KYAS . ( 1)

TI-IE W E STE R N

BRANCH .

T h e y wer e d es cen d ed from a p ower fu l fam ily in Gu ja r a t .

A.D. 48 9 P u la kesi
Ba d a m i).

I. cr ossed

Ab o u t

t h e N a r b a d a an d ca p t u r ed Va t a p i (or

O f h is t wo gr a n d son s, P u la kesi I I . con t in u ed t h e west er n

lin e on t h e t able-lan d , wh ile h is br ot h er , Ku b j a Vish n u Va r d h a n a I.,

fou n d ed

t h e ea st er n

Ve n gi.

T h e west er n b r a n ch ch a n ged t h eir cap it al to Ka lya n a , wh er e

b r a n ch , b elow t h e gh a t s at

t h e y r u led u n til A.D. 1150 .

Ra ja m a h e n d r i in

T h e Ch a lu k ya s we r e over t h r own in t h e

t welft h cen t u r y b y t h e Ballalas, wh o in turn wer e d efeat ed in A.D. 1327

b y an a r m y sen t b y M u h a m m a d ibn T u g h l a q of Delh i.

T H E CH ALU KYAS . ( 2 )

TH E

EASTERN

BRANCH .

T h e y r u led over Ve n gi an d t h e gr e a t e r p ar t of Ka lin ga wit h t h eir

ca p it a l at Ra ja m a h e n d r i.

T h e d ist u r b ed st a t e of t h e cou n t r y, d u e to

d isp u t ed su ccession s, ca u sed R a ja N a r en d r a , t h e Ch o la kin g, a b ou t t h e

close of t h e t en t h cen t u r y, to seize t h eir kin gd om , wh ich h e a n n exed
to h is em p ir e.

It r em a in ed a p a r t of t h a t em p ir e u n til t h e en d of t h e

t h ir t een t h cen t u r y, wh en t h e Ch o la s wer e exp elled b y t h e Ka k a t iya s

of W o r a n ga l.
T h e in sign ia of t h e Ch a lu k ya s con sist ed of t h e boar , t h e p ea cock
fan, t h e a n ku sh a

(elep h a n t goa d ) ,

t h e gold en

scep t r e, t h e

sa n kh a

(con ch sh ell), t h e wh it e u m b r ella , t h e sp ear , t h e n ou bat, t h e ban n er

of t h e sh a r p swor d , t h e p r a t id a kka
(th r on e), et c.

(sor t of d r u m ), t h e sin h asan a

x 2

yx

Se ve r a l of t h ese sym b ols a p p ea r on t h eir seals a t t a ch ed

to t h e cop p er gr a n t s an d on t h eir coin s.

The
TH E

Dominions,

Emblems,

COI N S OF TH E W E STE R N

and

CH ALUKYA

Coins

D YN ASTY.

zy

T h e go ld coin s con sist ed of t h in cir cu lar p ieces m ea su r in g a b ou t

i j i in ch es in d ia m et er an d we igh in g from 5 7- 6 8 gr a in s.

T h e figure of

a b oa r wa s st a m p ed in t h e cen t r e, wit h t h e Ka n a r e s e let t er s of t h e

le ge n d im p r essed sin gly r ou n d t h e p er ip h er y b y m ea n s of p u n ch e s ..
Th e

b la n k r ever s es a r e m a r ked

from

t h e scr a t ch es on t h e an vil,

p r o b a b ly m a d e to p r e ve n t t h e m et a l slip p in g wh e n

st r u ck.

Th ese

wer e su cceed ed b y r ou n d a n d t h icker p ieces, we igh in g a b ou t 58 gr a in s,

of b et t er wor km a n sh ip , wh ich h a ve r eceived t h e n a m e of " p a d m a t a n ka s ," from h a vin g a lot u s (p a d m a ) s t a m p ed in t h e cen t r e.
lot u s wa s a favou r it e

em b lem

t a n k a s " we r e su cceed ed

a m o n gs t

t h e J a in a s.

Th e

Th e

"p a d m a -

b y coin s of t h e sa m e we igh t b e a r in g t h e

figure of a boar .
T h e in flu en ce of t h e Ch a lu k ya d yn a s t y on t h e So u t h e r n

I n d ia n

zyxwvutsr

co in a ge h a s d es cen d ed t o t h e p r esen t tim e, for, "fr o m t h e e xt e n s ive

cir cu la t ion of t h e Ch a lu kya m on ey b e a r in g t h e figure of t h is an im al

(t h e b oa r ), an d it s a d op t ion b y t h e s u cceed in g d yn a st y of Vija ya n a ga r ,

t h e n a m e of t h e p ieces in m ost of t h e ver n a cu la r d ia lect s h a s com e t o

]ge t h a t of varaha, or b oa r p iece, even wh en t h e figure of t h e an im al

ga ve p la ce t o t h a t of a d eit y, or som e ot h er sym b ol, a s h a p p en ed after
t h e ch a n ge
N a r s in ga

in t h e Vija ya n a ga r

d yn a s t y from

the

Ku r u b a

to the

lin e ." 1
A.D. 10 18 - 10 4 2 (?).

Jay asim ha,

1. G o l d . W e i g h t 57^ t o 59 gr s. H u lt zs ch , N o . 29, Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96.

Obverse.Nine
p u n ch - m a r ks , o f wh ich five r ep r esen t a lion , t wo t h e
s ylla b le " S R I , " on e " J A YA , " a n d on e '< D E V A . "
Reverse.Blank.
Jagadekam alla,

A.D. 1 1 3 8 - 1 1 5 0 (?).

2. G o l d . W e i g h t 68 gr s. C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 2.
Obverse.Concave,
in sh a llow cu p - s h a p e ; t e m p le in cen t r e, b elow it
J A G A D E K A M A L A [ - m a lla ] in Ka n a r e s e = " t h e sole wr est ler
[ ch a m p io n ] of t h e wor ld " ; seven p u n ch - m a r k s on m a r gin , viz.,
t h r ee of " S R I " a n d four o f " J A G A D E K A M A L A . "
Reverse.Blank.
1

Elliot, C.S.L, p. 70.

of

the

Trailoky am alla,
3. G o l d . W e i g h t 58 gr s.

yxv
zyxwvut

South

Indian

Dynasties.

A.D. I I 5 0 - 1 1 5 9 (?).

H u lt zs ch , N o . 28, Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96.

Obverse.Nine
p u n ch - m a r ks , of wh ich five r ep r esen t a lion , t wo t h e
s ylla b le " S R I , " on e " T R E L O , " an d on e " M A L L A . "
Reverse.Blank.

Anony m ous.
4. G o l d . W e i g h t 6 5 ^ gr s.

E llio t , C.S.I., N o . 79 .

Obverse.Boar
in cen t r e u n d er a n u m b r ella , t wo flywhisks wit h t h e
taurus s ym b o l, a n d a la m p in fron t o fa n d a n ot h er b eh in d t h e
a n i m a l ; a r ou n d , im p r essed b y sep a r a t e p u n ch es, old Ka n a r e s e
let t er s, r e a d in g S R I C H A L U K Y A V A L L A B H A t h e la st wor d
d ou b t fu l.
Reverse.Blank.
5. Go ld . Bi d i e , P la t e 1, F ig. 5.

Mo o r e 's

Hindu

Pantheon.

P la t e

10 4,

F i g. 13Obverse.Boar
t o left, wit h su n a n d m oon , p a r t of a scr oll a b ove, a
scr oll b elow, a lso d a gge r like a cr oss.
Reverse.A scr oll on b ir d 's t ail, or a r a b es q u e o f folia ge ( E llio t ) . T h i s
is t h e ea r liest d es ign on t h e r ever ses of coin s in Sou t h er n I n d ia ;
t h e n a m e " p h u lih u n " = flowery p a go d a , b e in g d er ived from t h is
floral r ever se ( E llio t ) .
6. Go ld . E lli o t , Num is.

Glean., F i g. 5-

Bid ie , P la t e 1, F ig. 3.

Obverse.A b o a r ca p a r ison ed , wit h su n a n d m o o n a b ove.

Reverse.A
cen t r a l b oss su r r ou n d ed b y d ot s r ep r es en t in g a ch a kr a
or wh eel.
7. G o l d . W e i g h t 58-225 gr s . Bid ie, P la t e 1, F i g. 4.
Obverse.Caparisoned
b oa r t o t h e r igh t , scr olls a b ove a n d below.
Reverse.A r a d ia t in g ch a k r a or wh eel.
8. Go ld fan am , 6"2 gr s . E lli o t , N o . 8 6.
Obverse.Boar t o t h e r igh t in cir cle.
Reverse.A lion wit h t h e su n a b o ve .
9. Co p p e r E l l i o t , N o. 8 1.
Obverse.Boar t o t h e r igh t , su n a n d m oon a b ove.
Reverse.A s a n kh a sh ell.
10 . Co p p e r E l l i o t , N o . 83.
Obverse.As N o . 9.
Reverse.Lion
lo o k in g b a ckwa r d s .

zy
zyxwvut

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and Coins

I I . Co p p e r . E l l i o t , N o . 84.
Obverse.Boar t o t h e left.
Reverse.Indistinct.

TH E
Kubja

COI N S OF TH E EASTERN

Vishnu

CH ALUKYA

A.D. 6 15 - 6 3 3 .

Vardhana,

Th e

DYN ASTY.

first

kin g

surnam ed

Vi s h a m a s i d d h i .
1. Ba s e silver c o i n s . W e i gh t 32J t o 50 gr s . C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 1.
Obverse.Within
d o t t e d b or d er , a r u d e lion t o t h e r igh t , a b ove, T e l u g u
le ge n d " V I S H A M A S I D D H I " = "su ccessfu l in s ca lin g in a ccessib le
p la ces."
Reverse.Within
a b or d er of r a ys a d o u b le t r id en t , s u r m ou n t ed b y a
cr escen t , a n d flanked b y t wo la m p s .
2. Co p p e r . H u lt zs c h , N o . 34, Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96.
Obverse a n d Reverse as 1.
Saktivarm an

or

Chaluky a

Chandra,

A.D.

10 0 0 - 10 12 .

3. G o l d . W e i g h t 65-5 gr s. C.I.M., vol. i, p. 313.

Obverse.In cen t r e a b o a r t o r igh t , s u r m ou n t ed b y u m b r ella , fly-whisk on
e a ch sid e ; old Ka n a r e s e m a r gin a l legen d S R I C H A L U K Y A S A
13, i.e., ye a r 13 of t h e r eign .
Reverse.Blank.
Raja

Raja,

A.D.

10 2 2 - 10 6 3 .

4. G o l d . W e i g h t 66"5 gr s. N o . 24, Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96.

Obverse.In cen t r e a b o a r t o t h e r igh t , su r r ou n d ed b y t wo la m p s, a n
e le p h a n t go a d , a p a r a sol, a n d t h e su n a n d m o o n [?], t wo fly-whisks ;
b e lo w t h e b oa r 's h ea d t h e T e l u g u let t er J A [?] m a r gin S R I R A J A
R A J A [ T e l u g u ] S A [ M V A T ] 34.
Reverse.Plain.
5. G o l d . W e i g h t 66'5 gr s. N o . 25, Ind. Ant., De c. 18 96.
Obverse.As 4, b u t b elow t h e b oa r 's h e a d t h e T e l u g u let t er s
m a r gin S R I R A J A R A J A . S A. 37.

KA:

" T h e cen t r a l d e vice a n d e a ch of t h e s ix p o r t io n s of t h e m a r gin a l

le ge n d of N o s . 4 a n d 5 we r e st r u ck b y a sep a r a t e p u n ch .
sh ow t h r ou gh

on

the

p la in

r e ve r s e .

t h e o b ve r s e wa s e vid e n t ly ca u s e d

Th e

T h e p u n ch es

ir r egu la r co n ca ve s h a p e of

b y t h e gr a d u a l

b e n d i n g of t h e t h in

m e t a l d u r i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s i x p u n c h e s . " D r .

H u lt zs ch .

of
TH E

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

R ATTA CH I E F S OF MANYAKH ETA.

T h e first sea t of t h eir p ower a p p ea r s to h a ve b een a t Elu r a , a n d

a ft er wa r d s t h eir d om in ion s e xt e n d e d from
Kr is h n a in t h e sou t h .

E lu r a in t h e n or th to t h e

At t h e en d of t h e n in th cen t u r y A.D. t h ey

est a b lish ed t h em selves at M a n ya k h e t a (n ow M a lk h e d ) in th e cen t r e of

the

N iza m ' s d om in ion s,

wh ich

t h en cefor war d

b eca m e th eir

capital.

T h e y ar e sa id to r ep r esen t t h e m od er n Ma h r a t t a ( M a h a - Ra t t a ) n ation .
T h e Ch a lu k ya s wr est ed t h eir kin gd om from t h em a b ou t t h e eleven t h
cen t u r y.
T h e in sign ia on t h e Ra t t a gr a n t s is th e figure of a fou r -ar m ed
d eit y, bu t on e of th e in scr ip t ion s of a Ra t t a k in g m en t ion s t h a t " h e

zyxwvutsr

h a d t h e sign , or m a r k, or b a n n er of Ga r u d a ."

T h e followin g silver coin s, we igh in g 33 gr a in s, foun d at

Bo m b a y, etc., h a ve b e e n a t t r ib u t ed 1 t o t h is d yn a s t y;

N a s ik,

t h ey follow t h e

Gr e co - P a r t h ia n m od el an d a r e qu it e differen t to t h e sou t h er n -I n d ia
coin s :

Obverse.Head of t h e kin g.
Reverse.Bull
co u ch a n t wit h legen d P A R A M A
M AH E S VAR A
M A T A P I T R I P A D A N U D H YA T A
SRI KR I S H N AR AJ A =
" t h e illu st r iou s Kr is h n a r a ja (A.D. 360 -40 0 ?), t h e gr ea t lor d ,
m e d it a t in g on t h e feet of h is m ot h er a n d fath er ."

TH E

KALACH URIS OF KALYAN .

T h i s wa s on e of t h e d yn a st ies wh ich r ose u p on th e r u in s of t h e

Ch a lu k ya st a t e. In t h e t welft h cen t u r y its r u ler s wer e chiefs of
Ta d d e va d i in N or t h Ma isu r . Bijja la t h e chief, wh o also h eld h igh
m ilit a r y com m a n d at Ka lya n u n d er th e Ch a lu k ya kin g, d r ove h is r oya l
m a s t er from t h e cap it al, a n d p r ocla im ed h im self in d ep en d en t in A.D. I 162.
H e a d op t ed t h e co gn iza n ce of t h e go ld e n bull a n d t h e d a m a r u ka d r u m
(t h e sa n d -gla ss s h a p ed d ou b le d r u m ). T h i s d yn a s t y en d ed in A.D. I 18 2
wh e n t h e W e s t e r n Ch a lu k ya n kin g r ega in ed h is kin gd om .

Elliot, C.S.I., p. 149.

The

Dominions,

zy
zyxwv

Emblems,

and

Coins

Go ld coin s a s s ign ed t o t h e Ka la ch u r i k in g So m e s wa r a (A.D. 116 7 1175 ) , t h e su ccessor of Bijja la (A.D. 115 6 - 116 7 ) .
P a go d a s a n d fan am s.

E lliot , N o . 8 7.

Obverse.Figure
a d va n cin g t o r igh t .
Reverse.Old
Ka n a r e s e le ge n d in t h r ee lin es S O V I M U R A R I R A Y A
D E VA.

TH E

LI N GAYAT

SE CT

OF

H I N D U S.

T h e fou n d er wa s Ba s a va , t h e Br a h m a n m in ist er of Bijja la of t h e

Ka la ch u r is , wh o s e d ea t h h e com p a ssed .

T h i s n ew cr eed , fou n d ed

a b ou t A.D. 116 0 , wa s a form of p u r it a n Sa ivis m , kn own as t h e J a n ga m a

or Vir a Sa i va s e c t ; it levelled all d ist in ct ion s of ca st e, a n d u n it ed t h e
b u lk of t h e D a k h a n Su d r a s, in clu d in g e ve n P a r ia h s, m a n y of wh o m
we r e t h e p r in cip a l su p p or t er s of

Ba s a va .

Th e

Li n ga ya t s

d er ived

t h eir n a m e from t h e p r a ct ice of ca r r yin g a b ou t on t h eir p er son s t h e

" lin ga m " or e m b le m of Siva .

T h e i r d ist in ct ive m a r k is a p ecu lia r ly

s h a p e d silver ca se con t a in in g a sm a ll b la ck st on e " lin ga m " ; t h e b o x is"

ca lled " J a n ga m " (i.e., m ova b le) , a n d is eit h er fa st en ed t o t h e a r m or
s u s p en d ed from t h e n eck.

T h e s ym b o ls on t h eir coin s m a y h a ve

r efer en ce t o t h is p or t a b le " l i n g a m . "

Gold

Coinage

of

the Lingay ats.

F o u r t e e n t h cen t u r y ?

1. P a g o d a ( 51 gr s.), h a lf p a go d a (27 gr s .) .Bid ie , P la t e s 1- 8 , C.I.M., vol. i,

p. 318 .
Obverse;A figure wh ich m a y b e t h e lin ga m wit h a s n a ke - like scr oll
on it.
Reverse.A figure wh ich m a y b e t h e yon i, or lin ga m a n d yo n i co m b in e d .

T h i s coin fr eq u en t ly is for ged .

2. P a g o d a (52 gr s.), h a lf p a go d a (26'5 gr s .) .L a h o r e Mus. Cat., p. 112 .
Obverse a n d reverse.Plain a n d co n ve x.

T H E YADAVAS OF DEVAGI RI ,

A.D.

118 7 - 13 11.

T h e y we r e a n ot h er m in or d yn a s t y wh ich a r ose u p on t h e r u in s of
t h e Ch a lu k ya st a t e.
of Ka lya n

T h e y a r e sa id t o h a ve d r iven t h e Ka la ch u r is ou t

a n d t o h a ve ga in e d p ossession of t h e n or t h er n Ch a lu k ya

of
d ist r ict s.

Th e i r

Da u la t a b a d .

the

South

Indian

" p r in cip a l st at ion

wa s at

Dynasties.
De va gir i,

yxv
zy
3

the

m od er n

zyx

. . . T h e d u r at ion of t h e fam ily as r u ler s d id n ot e xce e d

12 4 ye a r s (or from A.D. 118 7 t o 13.11), wh en it wa s su b ver t ed b y t h e

a r m s of 'Ala u - d - d in M u h a m m a d Sh a h , t h e M a h o m m e d a n E m p e r o r of
D e lh i. " 1
T h e i r d evice wa s a go ld e n ga r u d a , a bir d sa cr ed to Vish n u .

Coins

attrihited

to the

1. G o l d . W e i g h t 52*2 gr s.

Yadavas

E llio t , N o . 88.

of

Dou b t fu l.

Obverse.A k n e e lin g figure of Ga r u d a .

Reverse.Old
Ka n a r e s e , t h r ee-lin ed legen d ,
[ - BH A T A ] ?
2. S i l ve r . W e i g h t 4-2 gr s.

R AJ A

S I VABAT A

E llio t , N o . 89.

Obverse.As N o. 1.
Reverse.Undecipherable

TH E

Devagiri.

ch a r a ct er s.

H OYSALA BALLALAS, A.D.

9 8 4 - 13 10 .

T h e y r ose t o p ower at Dva r a s a m u d r a a n d H a la b id u in Ma isu r ,

a n d wer e feu d a t or ies

of

th e

Ka lya n

Ch a lu kya s .

Th ey

cap t u r ed

Ta lk a d , t h e Ko n gu - Ch e r a cap it al, a n d a n n e xe d t h e cou n t r y n or t h of

D va r a va t i so far as t h e Tu n ga b h a d r a .
first a ssu m ed r ega l t it les.

Ba lla la I I . (A.D. 119 1- 12 11 ?)

O n h is d ea t h t h e y wer e d r iven b a ck wit h in

t h eir for m er lim its, bu t a ssist in g t h e Ch o la kin g in h is war s wit h t h e

P a n d ya kin g, t h ey ob t a in ed gr e a t in flu en ce to t h e ea st wa r d , an d t h e
H o ys a la k in g r esid ed m u ch at Vikr a m p u r in t h e Ch o la cou n t r y.

Th e

la st of t h e H o ys a la kin gs, Ba lla la I I I ., wa s cr u sh ed in A.D. 13 10 b y

t h e gen er a ls of Ala U-d -d in , E m p e r o r of Delh i.

T h e y p r ofessed t h e

J a in a r eligion till th e tim e of Vis h n u Va r d h a n a , wh o wa s con ver t ed to

Sa ivis m .
Th e

cogn iza n ce of t h e H o ys a la

Ba lla la s wa s t h e figure

t iger .

Elliot, C.S.I., p. 79-

of a

The
Coins

Dominions,
attributed

to the

Vishm i

zy
zyxw

Emblems,
Hoy sala

and

Coins

Ballalas.

Vardhana.

G o l d . W e i g h t 6 17 5 gr s. Ba n ga lo r e Mu seu m . E llio t , N o. go.

Obverse.Maned
lion befor e an a l t a r : a b ove, a sm a ller li o n : b o t h
fa cin g t o t h e r i g h t : t h e su n a b ove.
Reverse.Old
Ka n a r e s e t h r ee-lin ed le ge n d S R I
TALAKAD U
G O N D A , " H e wh o t ook t h e glor iou s Ta lk a d . "

'' The

Conqueror

of

Nonam bavadi."

G o l d . W e i g h t 63 gr s.
Obverse.As N o. 1.
Reverse.Old
Ka n a r e s e t h r ee-lin ed le ge n d S R I N O N A M B A V A D I
G O N D A N , " H e wh o t ook t h e glor iou s N o n a m b a va d i."

T H E GANAP ATI

DYN ASTY OF WORANGAL.

T h i s wa s a feu d at or y of t h e Ch a lu k ya s u n til Ka k a t i
(A.D.

1110 - 116 0 )

r eb elled

a ga in st h is s o ve r e ign .

H is

P r o la ya

su ccessor s,

n ot a b ly Ga n a p a t i (A.D. 12 2 3 - 12 5 7) , from wh om t h e lin e t ook its n a m e,

e n la r ge d

t h eir d om in ion s b y con q u est .

W o r a n ga l,

ca p t u r ed

b y t h e a r m ies of 'Ala u -d -d in

of D e lh i in A.D. 1310 , an d

the

Ki n g

(A.D.

12 8 5 - 13 2 5 )

t h e ca p it a l, wa s

Pratapa

Ru d r a

wa s com p elled t o

pay

t r ib u t e.

I n 1323 t h e cit y wa s a ga in ca p t u r ed b y t h e M u h a m m a d a n s

a s t h e k in g a t t em p t ed to free h im self from t h e De lh i yoke, a n d P r a t a p a

wa s sen t t o De lh i.
T h e i r cogn iza n ce wa s a bull cou ch a n t

b e t we e n t wo

wit h an u m b r ella a b o ve , a n d on ea ch sid e a

fly-whisk;

a r m ed figure sea t ed u n d er t h e u m br ella, an d a bell.

Coins

attributed

to this

Dy nasty .

1. Go ld p a go d a . E lli o t , p . 85.
Obverse.Bull cou ch a n t .
2. Go ld fa n a m . W e i gh t 6'6 gr s. E llio t N o . 93.
Obverse.Bull co u ch a n t t o r igh t
Reverse.?

ca n d ela b r a
also a four-

yxv
zyxwvuts

of

the

South

Indian

3. Co p p e r .E llio t , p . 85.
Obverse.Bull cou ch a n t .
Reverse.Old
N a ga r i legen d S R I M A T
P R AT AP A R A . . YA ?

TH E

S I LH AR AS .

NINTH

Dynasties.

. . KA

C E N T U R Y TO A.D.

. . .

KAKAT I

118 7 .

T h e r e wer e t wo b r a n ch es of t h is fam ily, viz., on e at Ko lh a p u r on

t h e t a b lela n d , a n d on e in t h e Ko n k a n b elow t h e gh a t s.
a t t a in ed t o gr e a t em in en ce.

T h e y n ever

O n e of t h eir t it les is d er ived from Ta ga r a ,

a p la ce kn own t o t h e Gr e e k geogr a p h er s , an d su p p osed to b e in t h e

vicin it y of Da u la t a b a d .
T h e i r cogn iza n ce wa s a go ld e n ga r u d a .
N o coin s h a ve ye t b een a t t r ib u t ed to t h em .
.

TH E

VE M M A

REDDIS

OF

KO N D AVI D .

T h i s fam ily wa s d es cen d ed from a wea lt h y far m er n a m ed P er m a l,

of An u m a k o n d a in Ma isu r , wh o r ose to som e d ist in ct ion after t h e fall of
W o r a n ga l in A.D. 132 3.
e xt e n d e d

P e r m a l est a b lish ed h im self at Ko n d a vid , an d

h is d om in ion s over

t h e n eigh b ou r in g cou n t r y.

su cceed ed b y five ot h er s of h is fam ily.

He

wa s

Ko n d a vid wa s ca p t u r ed b y

Kr is h n a R a ya of Ma isu r (A.D. 150 8 - 154 2 ) .

T h e i r cogn iza n ce wa s t h e figure of a bu ll cou ch an t .
o

N o coin s h a ve ye t b een a t t r ib u t ed to t h em .
TH E

CH E R A,

KO N G U ,

AND G AJ AP AT I

D YN AS T I E S .

T h e ea r liest local t r a d it ion s a gr e e in d ivid in g t h e ext r em e sou t h

of t h e p en in su la ( Dr a vid a - d e s a m ) , i.e., t h e p ar t sou t h wa r d of la t it u d e
12 0 , in t o four p r ovin ces, viz., P a n d ya , Ch ola , Ch er a , an d Ke r a la wh ich
wa s b elow t h e gh a t s . T h e r ela t ion s of t h e first t h r ee la y m or e often
wit h ea ch ot h er t h a n wit h t h ose of t h eir n or t h er n n eigh b ou r s.
Th ey
we r e ea r ly r ecogn ized as d ist in ct p ower s, a s t h ey ar e m en t ion ed in
As o k a ' s ed ict . O n e or ot h er of t h em was gen er a lly in th e a scen d a n t .
" T h e Chera p ower seem s to h a ve b een at th e h igh est befor e t h e
Ch r ist ia n er a, wh en it is foun d u n d er th e n a m e of Ke r a la in As o k a ' s

zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsrq
The

e d ict ." 1

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

T h e Ch e r a s a r e s u p p os ed t o h a ve b een t h e p eop le ca lled b y

P t o le m y " Ca r e i," a n d t h eir cou n t r y t h e " Ca r u r a R e g i a Ce r e b o t h r i," or

" Ca r e i," m a y r ep r es en t t h e cit y of Ka r u r , t h e ca p it a l of Ch e r a p a t i

( Lo r d

of Ch e r a ) .

co m p r e h e n d e d

Befor e

that part

t h e fou r th

of

cen t u r y t h e Ch e r a d om in ion s

t h e west er n

coa st

kn o wn

as

Ke r a la ,

e xt e n d in g from Ca p e Co m o r in t o Go a , an d r e a ch e d T r i c h e n g o d on t h e
east , a n d t h e p r esen t fr on tier of M a is u r on t h e n or t h .

Aft e r t h is t im e,

Ke r a la , i.e., t h e west er n p or t ion of t h eir t er r it or ies, b e in g sp lit u p in t o

n u m er ou s p r in cip alit ies, t h e im p or t a n ce of t h e Ch e r a s d eclin ed , b u t
t h e y con t in u ed t o go ve r n t h e ea st er n p or t ion of t h eir p ossession s, wit h
a d im in ish ed in flu en ce a n d u n d er a differ en t n a m e.
T h e co gn iza n ce of t h e Ch e r a s wa s a b ow.
T h e ea st er n r em n a n t of t h e Ch e r a t er r it or y, co m p r is in g t h e west er n
p or t ion of Ma isu r a s far a s N a n d id r u g, t o ge t h e r wit h Co im b a t o r e a n d
Sa le m , r e ce ive d t h e n a m e of Ko n gu - d e s a .

H e r e a n e w d yn a s t y a r o s e

wit h its ca p it a l at Sk a n d a p u r a (of u n cer t a in sit e). Acco r d i n g t o in scr ip t ion s, t h e first k in g of t h e n ew d yn a s t y wa s Ko n ga n i Va r m a , wit h h is
ca p it a l at t h a t p la ce, " b u t t h e t r u e sea t of t h eir p o we r wa s Ta la va n p u r a
or Da la va n p u r a , n ow T a l k a d , " 3 on t h e n or t h b a n k
t h ir t y m iles ea st of Se r in ga p a t a m .

of t h e Ka ve r i,

F r o m h im t h e lin e b e ca m e kn o wn

a s t h e Ko n g a n i d yn a s t y (som et im es ca lled t h e G a n g a d yn a s t y) .
T h e y t o o k for t h eir co gn iza n ce a n elep h a n t , in a d d it ion t o t h e
Ch e r a b ow, t h e la t t er b e in g t h a t b y wh ich t h e y con t in u ed t o b e r e co gn ized b y t h eir Ch o la a n d P a n d ya n n eigh b ou r s .

" T h e co gn iza n ce of t h e

elep h a n t wa s t a ken wit h m u ch p r op r iet y from

t h a t n ob le a n im a l, t h e

p r in cip a l h a u n t s of wh ich in t h e sou t h a r e t h e h ills a n d for est s of

Ko n g u d e s a . " 3
Ab o u t t h e n in t h cen t u r y t h eir s econ d ca p it a l, T a l k a d (est a b lish ed
a b ou t t h e t h ir d cen t u r y), wa s ca p t u r ed b y t h e Ch ola s .

Th e

Ch e r a -

Ko n g u s t h en fled t o Or issa , a n d

est a b lish ed t h er e t h e " Ga ja p a t i "

(i.e., elep h a n t lor d s) lin e of kin gs.

It wa s n ot till aft er t h e Ga ja p a t i

d yn a s t y a s ce n d e d t h e t h r on e of Or is s a t h a t Ga n j a m b e ca m e n om in a lly

Elliot, C.S.I., p. H I .

Elliot, p. 116.

Elliot, p. i i 2 .

of
a

part

o f t h eir

the

South

d om in ion s, wh ich

Indian

yxv
zyx

Dynasties.

or igin a lly h a d

fo r m e d

a n cien t k i n gd o m of Ka li n ga .

37

part

of

the

T h e c r e s t o f t h e K a l i n g a n a g a r a G a n g a d y n a s t y w a s a b u ll.

Copper

Coins

attributed

doubtfully

to the

Cher as.

Co p p e r . W e i g h t 50 t o 55 gr s .; a lso 6 9 a n d 23 gr s. Sm a ll ir r egu la r ly sh a p ed
d u m p y p ieces, fou n d ch iefly in Tr ip a t i, Sa le m , a n d t h e Co im b a t o r e
d ist r ict . N o . 1 is t h in a n d of a n ea r lier t yp e t h a n t h e ot h er s.
1. Obverse.The
Reverse.-The

kit a r (n a t ive d a gge r ) .

b ow. Tu fn ell, N o . 32.

2. Obve7~ se.A p ecu lia r o b je ct like a n a lt a r .

Reverse.The
b ow a n d ot h er s ym b o ls , su ch as t h e sacr ificial a x e or
e le p h a n t go a d . Tu fn ell, N o . 19.
3. Obverse.-As 2.
Reverse.Elephant
t o t h e left, b ow, a n d ot h er sym b ols.
N o . 2 0 ; E llio t , N o. 124.

Tu fn e ll,

4. Obverse.-As 2.
Reverse.Annulet
s u r m o u n t e d b y five p ellet s b et ween t wo s t a n d a r d s
or la m p s. E llio t , No. 12 1.

Gold

Coins

attribtded

to the

1. P a g o d a . W e i g h t 52-3 gr s.

Gajapati

Kings.

E llio t , N o . 118 .

Obverse.Elephant
t o t h e r igh t .
Reverse.A scr oll of folia ge or p ea cock's t ail.
2. P a g i p d a . W e i g h t from
P la t e 1, F ig. 7.

57-5 t o 58-5 gr s.

E llio t , N o . 119 ;

Bid ie,

Obverse.Elephant
t o r igh t ca p a r ison ed wit h jewelle d t r a p p in gs.
Reverse.As
N o . 1.
3. P a g o d a . As N o. 2, b u t Ka n a r e s e let t er a b o ve t h e elep h a n t , wh ich
m a y b e " t h e first let t er of t h e kin g's n a m e, or of t h e cycle ye a r
in wh ich it wa s issu ed ."
4. F a n a m . As N o . 2.

J.A.S.B.,

18 8 6, p. 158 .

5. H a l f fa n a m . As N o . 4.

T h e p a g o d a s a r e e x t e n s i v e l y f o r g e d ; t h e fa n a m s a n d
a r e rare.

h a l f- fa n a m s

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

zy

zyxwvut

Go ld fan am s of t h e G a n g a D yn a s t y of Ka lin ga n a ga r a , wh ich m a y

b e t h e coin s of An a n t a va r m a n , su r n a m ed Ch o d a ga n ga , wh o a s cen d ed
t h e t h r on e in A.D. 10 78 . D r . H u lt zs ch .
Weigh t

6 J gr s. N o s . 30 t o 33.
p p . 3 14 , 3 15.

Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, a n d C.I.M., vol. i,

1. Obverse.A r ecu m b en t b u ll fa cin g t h e r igh t , wit h a co n ch in fr on t

a n d cr e s ce n t a b ove.
Reverse.Telugu
r e gn a l d a t e in t wo lin es S A [ M V A T ] 3.
2. Obverse.As
Reverse.As

N o . 1, b u t b u ll s u r m o u n t e d b y a cr escen t .
N o 1, b u t r e gn a l d a t e 4 .

3. Obverse.A r e cu m b e n t b u ll fa cin g t h e r igh t , wit h t h e s u n ( ? ) i n fr on t

a n d cr es cen t a b ove.
Reverse.SA[MVAT]
5.
4. Obverse.A r e cu m b e n t b u ll fa cin g t h e r igh t , wit h a lin ga m in fr on t,
a n d a cr es cen t a b ove.
Reverse.SA[MVAT]
7.

Ot h e r Sa m va t yea r s a r e 10 , 13, 15, 3 1, 33, a n d 34.

T H E DYN ASTI E S IN KE R ALA.

U n d e r t h e Ch e r a kin gs, Ker a la , i.e., t h at p or t ion of t h e W e s t e r n

coa st of So u t h I n d ia from Ca p e Co m o r in to Go a , wa s go ve r n e d b y
Vice r o ys ca lled " P er u m a l " or " Ch e r u m a n P er u m a l " wh o r esid ed at
Cr a n ga n o r e .

T h e y wer e a ssist ed b y the N a ir ch ieft ain s, said to h a ve

com e or igin a lly from t h e H im a la ya s an d N a m b u r is (Br a h m in s), wh o

p r ocla im ed t h eir in d ep en d en ce in t h e fourth cen t u r y A.D. a n d d ivid ed
t h e cou n t r y in to eigh t een d ist r ict s u n d er t h eir own ch iefs.
t im e t h ese ch ieft a in sh ip s

m e r ge d in t o four

I n cou r se of

in d ep en d en t st a t es

kn own as Tr a va n co r e , Coch in , Ka liku t , a n d Ka n n a n u r .

n ow

All four st a t es

a r e said t o h a ve coin ed m on ey in A.D. 16 57, wh en an I t a lia n t r a veller

visit ed t h e coast .
The

Kerala

Currency .

(Foreign.)

T h e la r ge n u m b er of Ro m a n coin s wh ich wer e b r o u gh t to t h e

M a la b a r coa st b y t h e R o m a n t r a d er s in t h e first a n d secon d cen t u r ies
A.D. a p p ea r s to h a ve for m ed t h e ch ief cu r r en cy in Ke r a la lo n g after t h e
Rom a n s a b a n d on ed t h eir com m er cia l d ea lin gs wit h In d ia.

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

An o t h e r form of for eign cu r r en cy wa s a ft er wa r d s b r ou gh t to t h e

coa st in t h e cou r se of t r ad e, viz., t h e t wist ed silver wir e kn own

as

La r in s or "fis h h ook m o n e y," wh ich or igin a t ed at La r at th e h ea d of

t h e P er sia n Gu lf.

Th i s form of cu r r en cy is first m en t ion ed b y E u r op ea n

t r a veller s in A.D. 152 5, a n d wa s a ft er wa r d s fabr icat ed in th e M a ld ive

Islan d s, a n d b y t h e Ad i l Sh a h i d yn a s t y of Bija p u r .
T h e Ve n e t ia n seq u in s an d d u cat s, wh ich for m ed a la r ge p r op or t ion
of t h e go ld cu r r en cy on t h e west er n coa st abou t 20 0 yea r s a go, owed
t h eir in t r od u ct ion to t h e m er ca n t ile ven t u r es of t h e E u r o p e a n

t r ad er s,

as E u r o p e , at t h a t tim e, h ad n ot a r t icles sh e cou ld find a m a r ket for in

In d ia .

T h e i r free cir cu lat ion wa s a ssist ed b y t h eir b e in g of abou t t h e

s a m e we igh t as t h e M a d r a s st ar p a go d a , an d from t h eir lo n g con t in u ed

cu r r en cy t h ey ca m e to b e con sid er ed b y t h e p eop le as of n a t ive or igin .
T h e n a m es of t h e d o ge s on t h e seq u in s foun d in Ma la b a r ar e Pa u l
Ra yn er , P a t Gr im a n i, J oa n Cor n ei, Alo i Mocen , a n d Lu d o vic Ma n in .
Co p p e r im it at ion s a r e often seen r ou n d th e n ecks of wom en an d ch ild r en
in t h e sou t h of In d ia .

zyxwvutsrq

T h e cop p er cu r r en cy for a lo n g t im e con sist ed a lm ost en t ir ely of

D u t ch " d u it s " or " ch allis," wh ich wer e exp or t ed for t h e ea st er n cu r r en cy
a n d cir cu la t ed fr eely all a lon g th e west er n coast .

As lat e as 18 92 t h ey

cou ld be p u r ch a sed in la r ge qu an t it ies at t h e r at e of a b ou t 150 to t h e

r u p ee.

The

Kerala

Currency .

I.

(Indigenous.)

K AL I K U T .

T h e first ch ief wa s ca lled Sa m u n d r i, 1 wh en ce th e P or t u gu ese ter m of

Za m or in , a n d in vest ed wit h a swor d b y t h e last Ch er u m a n . H is title
wa s also Ta m u t ir i an d Ku n n -a la -kon a t ir i, " L o r d of t h e H ills an d W a ve s ."
H e bu ilt Ka liku t , an d en cou r a ged t h e r esor t of Ar a b m er ch a n t s for t h e
profits of t h e west er n com m er ce. Ka lik u t wa s t h e first p la ce in I n d ia
t ou ch ed at b y a E u r o p e a n n a viga t or , for it wa s t h er e t h at Va s co d a
Ga m a a r r ived on M a y 11t h , 1498 .
U n d e r t h e t r ea t y of 179 2,
wh e r e b y T i p u wa s d ep r ived of h a lf of h is d om in ion s, Ka liku t fell to
t h e Br it ish .
1

" Th e sea king " (Malayalam).

The

Dominions,

Coinage

Emblems,

of the Zam or in of

zy
zyxw

and

Kalikut.

Coins

Ac c o r d i n g t o Bu c h a n a n 1 t h e " v i r a r a y a " fa n a m s we r e s t r u ck a t
Ka lik u t .

I t is sa id , h o we ve r , t h a t t h e o t h e r r u ler s on t h e

M a la b a r

co a s t co in e d t h e m , a n d t h a t t h e y we r e first is s u ed b y t h e Ch e r a k a l R a j a
a t Ko la t n a d .

T h e y a r e oft en ca lled " p lo u gh fa n a m s " fr om t h e d e vice

o n t h e r e ve r s e .
Th e

vir-ray a fanam s.Weight

fan am s.

6' 5 an d

3*2 gr s.d ou b le an d

sin gle

Obverse.Indistinct form of th e sa n kh a sh ell r esem blin g th e N a n d ip a d a

sym bol on th e gold coin s of Tr a va n co r e : th e d evice on alm ost
ever y coin varies.
Reverse?" It exh ib it s a tran sverse bar, som et im es with th e en d tu r n ed
u p like the letter J , or sim p ly elon ga t ed som et h in g like a cr ocod ile
or saurian ; at oth er tim es with on e or t wo d ep en d en t lin es. . . .
Ab o ve this is always a n u m ber of d ot s ar r an ged in t wo or th r ee
lin es over each oth er . Ma r sd en 3 h as com p ar ed th is sym b ol to a
jin ja l or wall piece of or d n an ce wit h its pile of shot. . . ."
Dr . H u lt zsch , in 1892, su ggest ed t h a t th e d evice r ep r esen ted a sh ip.
M a n y of th e coin s wou ld seem to bear out th e su ggest ion , wh ich
wou ld be a su itable em blem for th e Zam or in , wh ose title was also
" Lor d of t h e H ills an d Wa ve s ." 4 If th e sh ip t h eor y be accep t ed ,
th e dots would r epr esen t waves.

T h e M a la b a r t a r es m a y h a ve b e e n s t r u ck at Ka lik u t .

Th e y are

sm a ll s ilve r p ie ce s w e i gh i n g from 1 t o 2 gr a in s a n d we r e cu r r en t on t h e
we s t e r n coa st in t h e s e ve n t e e n t h ce n t u r y.

T h e y we r e sa id t o b e eq u a l

t o g-fanam , a n d b y Bu ch a n a n t o b e e q u a l t o h a lf a p a i s a .
ca lled t a r is m e n t io n e d a s wo r t h jt-fanam

A silver coin

in t h e wr it in gs of Ab d u r

R a zza q , w h o vis it ed t h e Vi j a ya n a g a r a cou r t in A.D. 14 4 3, wh e n t h e co p p e r

jit a l (t h e e q u iva le n t of t h e m o d e r n p ice) eq u a lled -^ -tar.

T h e y h a ve t h e

s a m e o b ve r s e a s t h e vir a - r a ya fa n a m s a n d t h e figu r e of a d e it y on t h e
r e ve r s e . 4

Th e

Za m o r in ' s

m in t wa s

m a d e o ve r t o t h e E a s t

Co m p a n y in 179 31
2
3
i

four. Maisur, vol. ii, P- 353Elliot, C.S.I., p. 147.

Marsden, Num . Or., vol. ii, P- 744Elliot, No. 193.

I n d ia

CO P P E R SRI VI R A CO I N S O F T H E N A YA K A S

M AD U R A.

xvutsponm
p
10

21

OF

22

II

23

12

13

24

25

16

17

26

27fl

18

27&

COPPER SRI VIRA COINS OF TH E N AYAKAS OF TIN N EV ELLY.

COPPER COINS OF TH E N AYAKAS OF TAN JORE.

12
COPPER COINS OF PUDUCOTTAH.

14

16

17

COPPER COINS OF TH E MALD IVES.

of

the

South
II.

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
32

KAN N AN U R .

T h e P o r t u gu e s e p la n t ed a co lo n y h e r e in A.D. 14 9 8 a n d t h e D u t ch
in 16 56 .

T h e la t t er sold t h e p la ce t o a M o p la h fam ily, t h e h ea d of

wh ich s t ill'b e a r s t h e t it le of ' Ali R a ja .

I n t h e wa r wit h Tip u , in 178 3 ,

it wa s occu p ied b y t h e Br it ish ; b u t on t h e con clu sion of p ea ce, in 178 4 , it

zyxwvut

wa s r est or ed t o A l i R a ja , wh o b e ca m e t r ib u t a r y t o t h e E a s t
Co m p a n y.

I n d ia

It soon , h o we ve r , fell in t o t h e h a n d s of Tip u , from wh om it

wa s wr e s t e d b y Ge n e r a l Ab e r cr o m b y, a n d sin ce t h en h a s r em a in ed in
t h e h a n d s of t h e Br it ish .

Coinage

of

Kannanur.

T h e K i n g of Ka n n a n u r is sa id b y a t r a veller in A.D. 16 57 t o h a ve
coin ed m o n e y b u t it is p r o b a b le t h a t t h e vir -r a ya fan am s a n d silver
t a r es a r e m ea n t .
' Ali

R a ja , t h e M o p la h

fan am s in A.D. 176 4 a n d

ch ief, s t r u ck t h e followin g silver

1774 .

d ou b le

T h e y we r e p r ocu r ed in Ka n n a n u r .

D a t e s A.H. 1178 , 118 8 :

Obverse.U-1 ^ L

i_ <LJ l

"A1 Mulk Alu li (Guardian of the

Kin gdom ) Ali Raja."

Reverse.HVA <u_=

<01 "Pr aised be God, year 1178 ."

T h e E a s t I n d ia Co m p a n y s t r u ck silver d ou b le fan am s for p u r ely

loca l p u r p os es a t t h e Te llich e r r y fact or y, 12 m iles sou t h of Ka n n a n u r ,
wh ich h a d b e e n gr a n t e d to t h e m in 170 8 .

III.

CO CH I N .

Acco r d i n g t o t r a d it ion t h e r a ja h s o f Co ch in h old t h eir t er r it or y in

r igh t of d e s ce n t from Ch e r u m a n P er u m a l, wh o go ve r n e d all Ke r a la as
Vice r o y of t h e Ch o la k in gs in t h e b e gin n in g of t h e n in t h cen t u r y A.D.,
a n d a ft er wa r d s est a b lish ed h is in d ep en d en ce.
e r e ct e d a for t r ess

at

Co ch in .

In

In 150 3 t h e P o r t u gu e s e

16 6 3, after t h e exp u lsion of t h e

P o r t u gu e s e , t h e r a ja ced ed t h e t own to t h e Du t ch , wh o m a d e it t h e
ca p it a l of t h eir p ossession s in I n d ia .
VOL. I X.

In

1776 t h e Co ch in st a t e wa s
Y

The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

s u b j u g a t e d b y H a i d a r Al i o f M a i s u r , t o w h o m it b e c a m e t r ib u t a r y.
17 9 2 , h is s o n , T i p u , c e d e d t h e s o v e r e i g n t y t o t h e Br it is h , w h o
o ve r t h e c o u n t r y t o t h e h e r e d i t a r y r a j a , s u b j e c t t o a t r ib u t e .

zy
In

made

In

17 9 6

t h e t o w n o f Co c h i n w a s c a p t u r e d fr om t h e D u t c h b y t h e Br it is h .

Th e

s t a t e is n o w
dated

in

su b sid ia r y

18 0 9 .

a lli a n ce

wit h

the

Br i t i s h u n d e r a t r e a t y

zyxwvut

T h e d i s t i n ct i ve d e v i c e o f t h e Co c h i n s t a t e w a s t h e S a n k h a s h e ll,
o r co n ch s h e ll, w h i c h a p p e a r s first
I n d ia b y t h e Ch a l u k y a s .

Coinage
T h e r u le r s o f Co c h i n

to h a ve b e e n a d o p t e d

of

in

Sou t h er n

Cochin.

n e ve r h a d a r e gu la r

t e m p o r a r y e s t a b l i s h m e n t s w h e n co in w a s

m in t

but resorted to

r eq u ir ed .1

1. Silver puttan .<Weight 4'9 grs., called th e " Ka liya m a n i " or Sa n kh a la t a

pu ttan (i.e., p u ttan with ou t the Sa n kh a sh ell). Da t e of coin age
u n kn own .
Obverse.As on th e vir -r aya fan am s of Ka liku t .
Reverse.A few dots an d lin es im p er fect ly str u ck.
2. Silver p u ttan , str u ck b y th e Du t ch for th e Coch in R a ja in 178 2 an d 1790 ,
d u r in g th e Du t ch occu p a n cy of th e Coch in F o r t .W e igh t 5'2 grs.
Differen t dies.
Obverse.The con ch or Sa n kh a sh ell.
Reverse.An ob ject like th e letter J with t wo or three rows of d ots
below it.
3. Dou b le silver pu ttan s, struck in 18 2 0 .Weigh t 16 grs.
Obverse an d reverse as No. 2.
4. Silver pu ttan , struck in 18 56 an d 18 58 .Weigh t 84. grs.
Obverse.The con ch or Sa n kh a sh ell.
Reverse.Either (1) "Si t t i n g figure of th e god Siva, as worshipped in
th e Ra ja 's t em p le at Tr ip u n at h or ai, with sn akes on eith er side, a
ch ap let of skulls, etc., as u su ally d ep ict ed ," 2 or (2) " Vish n u , wh ich
would be m ore ap p r op r iate to the Vaish n aiva sym bol of th e Sa n kh a
shell, bu t th e forms issuin g from each elbow of th e god ap p ear to
be clear ly serpen ts, a sym b ol p er tain in g ch ar act er ist ically to Siva
an d n ot to Vis h n u ." 3
5. Dou b le silver p u ttan , str u ck in 18 56 an d 18 58 .Weigh t i6'8 grs.
Obverse an d reverse as No. 4.
1

Elliot, C.S.I., p. 141.

Dr. Day, Land of the Perm auls, p. 577-

Elliot

> P- r 4 2 -

of

the

South

Indian

yxv

Dynasties.

32

T h e cop p er cu r r en cy con sist ed en t ir ely of th e Du t ch " duits " or

"ch a llis ."

" Ca n t e r Vis s ch e r d escr ib es a b a se coin st r u ck at Coch in

wh ich h e calls ' Bo e s e r o kke n ,' an alloy of lea d an d tin , with th e ar m s of

t h e Du t ch E a s t I n d ia Co m p a n y on on e sid e an d som et h in g like a h a r p
on t h e ot h er .

T h e y a r e cast in a m ou ld , a n d sixt y of t h em are equ al

to a Coch in fa n a m ." 1

T h e s e coin s wer e evid en t ly Du t ch im itation s of

t h e t u t e n a ga n d t in "b a za r u cco s " ( = "m a r k e t sm all ch a n ge ") first coin ed

b y t h e P o r t u gu e s e in M a la cca an d a ft er wa r d s in Goa , wh ich wer e also
im it a t ed b y t h e E n glis h E a s t In d ia Co m p a n y in Bom b a y,, wh er e t h ey
wer e ca lled " b u d gr o o ks ."
b a za r u ccos

on

wh olly or p a r t ly

I h a ve n ever m et with a n y of t h e Du t ch

t h e west er n coast of I n d ia ; in fact, coin s com p osed

of lead , a r e r a r ely foun d in I n d ia in t h ese d a ys.

Alt h o u gh com p a r a t ively few wer e st r u ck, m or e sh ou ld b e a va ila b le ;

t h e facility wit h

wh ich

t h e y ar e m elt ed d own , eit h er p u r p osely or

a ccid en t a lly in fires, a ccou n t s p er h a p s, to som e ext en t , for t h eir sca r cen ess.

M a n y cop p er coin s foun d in I n d ia sh ow u n m ist a ka b le sign s of

h a vin g p a ssed t h r ou gh fire.

I V.

T R AVAN CO R E

( Tir u va n k o d u ) .

Acco r d in g to t r ad it ion t h e r a ja s of Tr a va n co r e a lso h old t h eir

t er r it or y in r igh t of d escen t from Ch e r u m a n Per u m al, wh o go ve r n e d all
Ke r a la as Vice r o y of t h e Ch o la kin gs in t h e b e gin n in g of t h e n in th
cen t u r y A.D., an d a ft er wa r d s est a b lish ed h is in d ep en d en ce.
Th e
a t t em p t s of H a id a r Ali of Ma isu r to a n n ex Tr a va n co r e wer e frustrated
b y t h e Br it ish in 176 9 , an d b y t h e Du t ch , wh o r efu sed to allow t h e
Ma isu r tr oop s to p a ss t h r o u gh t h eir t er r it or y ; h is son , Tip u , t r ied to
seize it, bu t t h e T r e a t y of Se r in ga p a t a m in 179 2 a ssu r ed th e safety of
t h e r a ja 's d om in ion s. Sin ce t h at t im e t h e st a t e h a s con t in u ed in t h e
full en joym en t of its in d ep en d en ce.

zyxwvu

T h e cogn iza n ce of t h e Tr a va n co r e st a t e is th e sa n ka , or con ch

sh ell.

Elliot, C.S.L, p. 142.

Y 2

The

Dominions,
Coinage

of

zy
zyxw

Emblems,
Travancore.

and

Coins

1. Th e ear liest coin s of th is state are th e four old pieces, th ree of lead an d
on e of iron, presen ted to Sir W . Elliot by th e r ajah .

" T h e s e coin s a p p e a r t o d a t e fr om a p e r io d a n t e r io r t o t h e s e ve n t h
or e igh t h ce n t u r y.

T h e r e ve r s e o f a ll four is s m o o t h , a n d t h e o b ve r s e ,

wh ich is m u ch wo r n , e xh ib it s a n im p e r fe ct o u t lin e o f w h a t m a y h a ve
b e e n a s a n k h a sh ell, t h e a n cie n t c o gn i za n c e o f t h e T r a v a n c o r e s t a t e,
w h i ch it st ill r e t a in s ." 1
2. Th e rasi. Gold .'Weigh t 5'8 gr s.
n atives of Tr a va n cor e.

Th e old est coin a ccor d in g t o th e

Obverse.Degraded r epr esen tation of th e san kh a shell.

Reverse.As on th e vir -r aya fan am s of Ka liku t .
3. Th e kali or ka li-yu gen r ajen fanam ( = m on ey of th e ka li-yu ga ), at on e
tim e curren t over th e wh ole of Ker a la . Go ld .W e igh t 5"4 grs.
Obverse an d reverse r esem ble th e d evices d escr ibed on th e vir -r aya
fan am of Ka liku t .
4. Th e An a n d a r a m en fan am .
P la t e x x x , 9.

Gold .-Weigh t

5 7 grs.

C.I.M.,

vol. i,

Obverse.Crescent with t welve pellets above, ch ar acter s below.

Reverse.The " Na n d ip a d a " sym b ol an d pellets.
5. Th e Ch in n a ( = sm all) fan am , th e h a lf of No. 4.

Gold .-Weigh t 2 - 8 grs.

Obverse and reverse as 4.

" T h e y (Nos. 4 and
d ir e ct io n

of t h e

Dewa n

5) a p p e a r t o h a ve b e e n co in e d u n d e r t h e
3

in

the

r e i gn

of

the

Ki n g

Ram a

175 8 - 9 8 , w h e n t h e finances of t h e co u n t r y, w h i ch h a d b e e n

Ra ja ,

som ewh a t

e m b a r r a s s e d , we r e r e - e s t a b lis h e d b y t h e l e v y o f a n a d d it io n a l la n d t a x
an cl t h e r efor m

of t h e

co in a ge .

I t w a s o n ly r e t a in e d for a lim it e d

p e r io d , a n d h a s s in ce b e e n d is co n t in u e d b y D e w a n Ve n k a t a R a o . " 3
6. Gold fa n a m .Weigh t 5"5 to 6 grs. C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 8.
Obverse.Dagger.
Reverse.Heart-shaped
device con t ain in g twelve pellets, cr escen t
above.
1

Elliot, C.S.I., p. T37.

3

Anant Ram.
Elliot, C.S.I., p. 138.

of

the

yxv
zy
zyxwvu

South

Indian

Dynasties.

32

7. Go ld fa n a m . W e i gh t 5 - 5 t o 6 gr s.
Obverse.Twelve
p ellet s a n d lin es.
Reverse.As
t h e ob ver se.

8. Go ld fa n a m . W e i g h t 5-5 t o 6 gr s. C.I.M., vol.i, P la t e x x x , 10 .

Obverse.A kin d of d a gge r a n d ot h er m a r ks.
Reverse.Sym bols

a n d ch a r a ct er s ,

g. T h e old Ve lli ( = silver ) fan am . Si l ve r . W e i g h t 22-9 gr s.

Obverse.As t h e ka li fan am , b u t wit h floral wr ea t h r ou n d t h e ed ge.
Reverse.A d o u b le b r a n ch fa cin g b ot h r igh t a n d left, t h e wh ole wit h in
a T a m i l le ge n d in d ica t in g t h e va lu e.
10 . T h e n ew Ve lli ( = silver ) fan am ; t h e e q u iva le n t of 4 ch a k r a m s ; issu ed
in 18 6 8 -9 .
11. Tr e b le ch a k r a m .
Obverse.Sankha
Reverse.Curved

Si l ve r . W e i g h t 16 gr s.
sh ell a n d cr escen t .
o b je ct a n d t welve p ellet s.

12. Tr e b le ch a kr a m . Si l ve r . W e i g h t 16 gr s .
Obverse.As N o. 11.
Reverse.Figure
of Vis h n u .
13. D o u b le ch a k r a m . S i l ve r . W e i g h t 11*5 gr s.
Obverse.Sankha
or con ch sh ell a n d p ellet s.
Reverse.Two
eq u ila t er a l t r ia n gles in t er la ced , for m in g a s ix- p o in t e d
d ia gr a m , co m m o n ly kn own a s " S o l o m o n ' s sea l."
14. Ch a k r a m . Si lve r . W e i gh t from 5*5 t o 6 gr s. C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e
x x x , 11.
(a) Obverse.Curved lin e, t welve p ellet s, t h r ee-lea ved sp r a y.
Reverse." N a n d ip a d a " s ym b o l.
(b) Obverse.Curved lin e a n d t wo p ellet s.
Reverse.Curved
lin e a n d p ellet s.
(c) Obverse.As (b).
Reverse.-Curved a n d s t r a igh t lin es.
15. H a l f ch a kr a m . Si l ve r . W e i g h t 3 gr s.
Obverse.Sankha
or co n ch sh ell.
Reverse.Solom on's
sea l.

T h e sh ell on som e of t h ese h a lf ch a kr a m s r e s e m b le s t h e " m u r ex "

sh ell.
T H E AN AN TAN

KASU .

" Th i s n a m e s u gge s t s th at t h e figure of a cob r a on th e ob ver se is

0 0

m ea n t for t h e ser p en t Ki n g An a n t a , wit h wh om th e n am e of t h e cap ital

zyxwvuts
The

26
of

Tr a va n cor e

co n n e ct e d ." 1

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

zyxwvutsr

T I R U VAN AN T AP U R AM

( Tr iva n d r u m ) ,

is

p op u la r ly

1. Co p p e r 8 ca sh { \ ch u ck r a m ) . W e i gh t 80 gr s. A.D. 173 5 - 6 . P la t e I I ,
F i g. i.
Obverse.A five-h ea d ed cob r a : b elow it in T a m i l &rrsr ^ = Ka s u 8 =
8 ca sh .
Reverse.The
Te n ga la i Va is h n a va m a r k : b e lo w it t h e T a m i l figures
sb tO < = 9 11, followed b y t h e a b b r evia t ion for va r u s h a m (va r sh a ) =
ye a r , i.e., 9 11 of t h e Ko lla m e r a = A. D . 173 5 - 6 .
2. Co p p e r 4 c a s h ( = ch u ck r a m ) .- We igh t 4 0 gr s . A.D. 173 5- 6 . Ind.
De c., 18 96, N o . 23. P la t e I I , F ig. 2.
Obverse.As N o . 1, b u t T a m i l rr [<sj-] ^ = K a s u 4 = 4 ca sh .
Reverse.As
N o . 1.

Ant.

3. Co p p e r 2 c a s h . W e i g h t 20 gr s. A.D. 174 1- 2 . Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96,

N o . 20 . P la t e I I , Fig.. 3.
Obverse.As N o . 1 b u t Ta m i l <m rr [<sj-] a_ = Ka s u 2 = 2 ca sh .
Reverse.As
N o . 1 b u t ye a r <' &> U) ST = 9 17 of t h e Ko l l a m er a =
A.D. 174 1- 2 .
4. Co p p e r 1 c a s h . W e i g h t 10 gr s. A.D. 1735-6.
P la t e I I , F ig. 4.
Obverse.As N o . 1 b u t T a i n i l &rrsr < = K a s u 1 = 1 ca sh .
Reverse.As N o . 1.
5. Co p p e r 1 c a s h . W e i g h t 10 gr s. A.D. 174 1- 2 .
Ind. Ant.,
N o . 19.
Obverse.As N o . 3 b u t T a m i l /r<Sr = K a s u 1 = 1 ca sh .
Reverse.As
N o . 3.
TRAVANCORE

COPPER

De c., 18 96,

COI NS.

1. Ca s h . W e i g h t 10 gr s.
(a) Obverse.The
s t a n d in g figu r e of a fou r -a r m ed go d , sa id
Vis h n u or Kr is h n a .
Reverse.Solom on's
sea l, in r a ye d cir cle.
(b) Obverse.Spiny m u r e x sh ell in lin ed cir cle.
Reverse.Vishnu
in lin ed cir cle.

to

be

2. 2 c a s h . W e i g h t 20 gr a in s.
'Obverse.Vishnu or Kr is h n a wit h a s p r ig or b r a n ch u n d er t h e a r m ,
a n d M a la ya lim figure 2.
Reverse.Solom on's
sea l in r a ye d cir cle.
3. 4 c a s h . W e i g h t 4 0 gr s.
Obverse.As N o . 2, b u t M a la ya lim figure 4.
Reverse.As
N o . 2.
1

Dr . H ultzsch, Ind. Ant., Dec., 1896.

of

the

South

yx
zy
zyxwvu

Indian

Dynastie-s.

327

4 . 8 ca sh ( = i c h u c k r a m ) . W e i g h t 80 grs., , C.J.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 14.

Obverse.Spiny
m u r e x s h e l l : M a la ya lim le ge n d " a r a
a ch a kr a m .
Reverse.Solom on's
sea l in r a yed cir cle.
5. 4 ca sh ( = -]- c h u c k r a m ) . W e i gh t 40 gr s.
Obverse.As
Reverse.As

ch a kr a m "= h a lf

P la t e I I , F ig. 8.

N o . 4 b u t q u a r t er of a ch u ck r a m .
N o . 4.

Modem
Raja

Gold

Ram a

[. Go ld d ou b le p a go d a .

Coins

Varm a,

of

G.C.SJ.,

Travancore.
A.D. 18 6 0 -8 0 .

Bid ie, N o . 2 2 . W e i g h t 79 gr s.

sa cr ed sh ell su r r ou n d ed b y a wr ea t h .

Obverse.The

t h e m a r gin T R A V A N C O R E , in t h e cen t r e wit h in a

Reverse.Round

wr ea t h j ^ y , R . V. b e in g t h e in it ia ls of t h e r a ja .
2. Go ld p a go d a .

As N o . 1. W e i g h t 39-5 gr a in s.
Raja

Ram a

Varm a, A.D. 18 8 a

3. D o u b le p a g o d a . W e i g h t 79 gr s.
Obverse As N o . r.
Reverse.In wr ea t h t h e M a la ya lim le ge n d S R I | P A D M A "| N A B H A
= " lot u s in n a vel " scil. Vis h n u .
4 . P a g o d a . W e i g h t 39-5 gr s.
5. i p a g o d a . W e i g h t 19-5 gr s.
Modern
Raja

Silver
Ram a

As N o. 3.
As N o . 3.
Coins

of

C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 15.

Travancore.

Varm a, A.D. 1880 .

r u p ee, 18 8 9.
Obverse.The sa cr ed sh ell wit h in a wr ea t h su r r ou n d ed b y M a la ya lim
legen d .
Reverse\
RUPEE
wit h in wr e a t h :
R AJ A
VU R M A
a b ove,
T R A V A N C O R E b elow.
J r u p ee.

C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 13.

Obverse.R.V. (t h e in it ials of t h e m a h a r a ja h ) wit h in a wr ea t h .

Reverse.Num eral
in cen t r e of wr ea t h .

The

zy
zyxwvu

Dominions,

Modern

Copper

Emblems,

Coins

of

Raja Ram a Varm a, A.D. 1880.

and

Coins

Travancore.

Plate II, Figs. 5 to 7.

1. 1 ch u ckr a m .We igh t 160 grs.

Obverse.The sacred shell in lin ed circle ; th e wh ole within a wr eath .
Reverse.The letters R.V. (in itials of the m a h a r a ja h ) surroun ded b y
C H U C K R A M O N E in En glish an d Ma la ya lim .
2. 8 ca s h .We igh t 80 grs.

Obverse.-As No. 1.
Reverse.As

N o 1 bu t C A S H E I G H T in En glish an d Ma la ya lim .

3. 4 ca s h .Weigh t 40 grs.

Obverse.As No. 1.
Reverse.As

TH E

P AR T I ALI T Y

No. 1 but C A S H F O U R in En glis h an d Ma la ya lim .

OF

P I E CE S OF M O N E Y,

TH E

N AT I VE S

AN D TH E

OF

SOUTH E RN

CH AI CRAM

BO AR D

I N D I A FOR
OF

S M AL L

T R AVAN CO R E .

" T h e t r ou b le of r e ck o n in g a n d ca r r yin g a b o u t su ch sm all p ie ce s

(i.e., go ld fan am s a n d h alf-fan am s)

m igh t h a ve b e e n t h o u gh t t o p r o ve

a d ve r s e t o t h eir p op u la r it y, b u t t h e m od er n p r a ct ice of

T r a va n c o r e

s h o ws t h a t t h is is n ot foun d to b e an ob s t a cle in t r a n s a ct in g b u sin ess.

O f t h e t wo coin s in p op u la r d a ily u se t h er e, viz., t h e s ilver ch a k r a m
and

t h e cash , t h e for m er , b e in g ' sm a ll a n d glo b o s e , is e xce e d in gly

difficult t o cou n t or h a n d le.

ch a kr a m s,

we igh in g

24

^ 10 0 s t e r lin g a m o u n t s t o 28 ,50 0

p ou n d s a voir d u p ois,

and

wa s t e d in r e ck o n in g t h is n u m b e r of sm a ll coin s.

h ou r s wou ld

be

T h e y a r e t h er efor e

m e a s u r e d or cou n t ed b y m e a n s of a " c h a k r a m b o a r d ," a sm a ll s q u a r e

wo o d e n p la t e wit h a give n n u m b e r of h oles t h e e xa ct size a n d d ep t h of
a ch a kr a m .

. . .

A sm a ll h an d fu l of coin s is t h r own on t h e b oa r d ,

wh ich is t h en s h a k e n ge n t ly from sid e t o sid e so as to ca u s e a s in gle

ch a kr a m t o fall in t o ea ch ca vit y, a n d t h e su r p lu s, if a n y, is s wep t off
wit h t h e
co n t a in s

han d.

A gla n ce a t t h e b oa r d , wh e n filled, s h o ws t h a t it

t h e e xa ct n u m b er of coin s for wh ich it is in t en d ed .

r a p id m a n ip u la t ion of t h is sim p le b u t in gen iou s

im p lem en t

Th e

r eq u ir es

s o m e p r a ct ice, b u t t h e Go ve r n m e n t cler ks a n d n a t ive m e r ch a n t s a r e

e xce e d i n gly e xp e r t a n d e xa ct in its p e r fo r m a n ce .' 1
1

Al t h o u g h t h e u se

Elliot, C.S.I., p. 148, and Mateers' Land of Charity , p. i n .

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
32

o f, t h is e xp e d ie n t d o e s n ot a p p e a r t o h a ve e xt e n d e d b e yo n d Ma la b a r ,
it s e m p lo ym e n t
p a r t ia lit y of

in t h a t

t h e n a t ive s

d ist r ict
for

t o t h e p r esen t d a y exem p lifies t h e

su ch

sm a ll p ieces of

m in u t e go ld coin s we igh in g from 1 t o

h a ve b e e n n ot ed in So u t h e r n I n d ia .
for

t h eir

gr e a t

p u r it y,

fr om

m o n e y."

E ve n

g r a i n s t h e J a n d \ fa n a m
" So m e of t h em a r e d ist in gu ish ed

wh ich

cir cu m s t a n ce

th ey are

called

' Ap a r a n j i ' fa n a m s."

TH E

P AN D YA

KI N G D O M .

T h e first m en t ion of t h e P a n d ya n s in I n d ia n h is t o r y is in As o k a ' s

ed ict , wh e n t h ey, a s well as t h e Ch o la s a n d Ch e r a s , wer e r e co gn ize d
a s d ist in ct p o we r s in So u t h e r n I n d ia .

T h e i r co u n t r y wa s b o u n d e d to

t h e n or t h b y t h e R ive r Va yg a r , a cco r d in g t o D o ws o n , or b y a lin e

60 m iles t o t h e east , p a s s in g t h r o u gh Ka r u r , a cco r d in g t o W i lk s .
T h e i r first ca p it a l wa s Ko r k e y or Ko r k o i (t h e
n o w id en t ified

in

the

m od er n

KO X ^ C H

of t h e P er ip lu s),

zyxwvu

villa ge

of M a r a m a n ga la m .

Mad u r a

a ft er wa r d s b e ca m e t h e -ch ief cit y, wh ich is s p oken of b y P t o le m y a n d

is m e n t io n e d in t h e P er ip lu s, wh e r e Ca p e Ko m o r in a n d ot h er loca lit ies

were sa id t o b e u n d er Ki n g P a n d io n ,

VTTO

TOV

/ 3a<ri\ ea Havhtova.

Th is

ca r r ie s u s b a ck to A.D. 13 9 - 16 1, t h e t im e of P t o le m y' s wr it in gs, a n d

t o 50 0 B.C., t h a t of t h e P er ip lu s.
b e e n sh ift ed

T h e sit e of t h e ca p it a l h a s p r ob a b ly

m or e t h a n on ce, a s old M a d u r a is on t h e n or t h b a n k of

t h e Va yga r , a n d a b o u t a m ile from t h e p r e s e n t cit y, wh ich is on t h e

s o u t h b a n k.

T h e Chronicle

of Madura

g i ve s a list of t wo P a n d ya n

d yn a s t ies , of s e ve n t y- t h r e e k in gs , from t h e fifth ce n t u r y B.C. t o A.D. 699,

a n d of for t y-t h r ee
r e s p e ct ive ly.

k in gs

fr om

that

As , h o we ve r , t h e s e

date

to t h e fou r t een t h

list s h a ve n ot b e e n

in scr ip t ion s t h e y a r e of lit t le h ist or ica l va lu e.

cen t u r y

con fir m ed

by

T h e P a n d ya n d yn a s t y

fell u n d e r t h e d om in ion of t h e Ch o la s b e t we e n A.D. 10 6 4 a n d 1113 .

M a d u r a wa s ca p t u r e d in A.D. 13 11 b y t h e ge n e r a l of Ala u - d - d in
o f D e lh i.

An

in d e p e n d e n t

M u s a lm a n

lin e of r u ler s h eld

it from

A.D. I 3 3 4 - 13 / 7 , t h eir lin e bein g- e n d e d b y t h e Vi j a ya n a ga r a d yn a s t y,

wh ich

in its t u r n wa s o ve r wh e lm e d in A.D. 156 5.

T h e N a ya k a s of

M a d u r a , wh o h a d b e e n feu d a t or ies of Vija ya n a ga r a , go ve r n e d u n t il

173 6 .

In 174 0 t h e M a d u r a d ist r ict fell in t o t h e h a n d s of t h e N a w a b

zy
zyxwvutsr
The

o f t h e Ka r n a t ik .

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

I n 176 2 t h e Br it is h t o o k ch a r ge of it for M u h a m m a d

Ali, t h e la st in d e p e n d e n t N a w a b .
T h e s p e cia l cognizance
in va r io u s co m b in a t io n s .

of t h e P a n d ya n s wa s t h e figure

of a fish

T h e k in g' s t it le wa s M i n a va n (t h e

fish-one),

a n d t h e n a m e of t h e t u t ela r y d e it y wo r s h ip p e d in t h e gr e a t t em p le wa s
M in a t ch i ( vu lga r ly M in a k s h i, " fi s h - e ye d " ) .
Coins of the Korkey

Pandy ans.

T h e i r ea r liest co in a ge con s is t ed of t h e " p u n c h - m a r k e d " p ie ce s

a lr e a d y d es cr ib ed .
a t t r ib u t e d 1

T h e followin g d ie - s t r u ck co p p e r coin s h a ve b e e n

to th em :

1. Obverse.The elephant.
Reverse.Plain.
2. Obverse.As No. 1.
Reverse.The Buddhist shaccram .
3. Obverse.The elephant as chief m ark with secon dary em blem s, as
the moon above and the battle-axe in front.
Reverse As No. 2.
T h e s e h er a ld ic m a r ks d o u b t le s s sign ified s o m e im p o r t a n t h is t or ica l
e ve n t .

Th e

coin s a r e s m a ller a n d t h in n er t h a n t h o s e d e s cr ib e d a s

fou n d in M a d u r a a n d h a ve va r ia n t s e co n d a r y m a r k s .

As b o t h s e r ie s

we r e co n t e m p o r a r y, M r . Lo ve n t h a l t h in ks t h a t t h e r e we r e t wo P a n d ya n
d yn a s t ie s , on e in Ko r k e y a n d t h e o t h e r in M a d u r a .
4. Obverse.Bull with flower pot in front.
Reverse.As No. 2.
5. Em blem s, such as stars, wheels, lines, scrolls, crosses and other
figures on both sides, replace the elephan t and secon dary m arks.
6. Dyn astic em blem s reappear with Brahm anical marks.
N o s . 5 a n d 6 a r e co m m o n t h r o u gh o u t So u t h e r n

I n d ia a n d a r e

s a i d 2 t o h a ve b e lo n ge d fr om t h e fou r t h t o s ixt h ce n t u r ie s A.D., wh e n

Bu d d h is m a n d Br a h m a n is m we r e fighting t o ge t h e r .
7. Obverse.-The elep h an t ; above Tam il letter & (Sa = San tra = the
moon).
Reverse.The figure of a man in fighting at t it u d e; bat t le-axe
and moon.
1

Loventhal's Coins of Tinnevelly , p. 6.

Ibid., p. 7.

of

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

T h i s figure h a s b een called t h e " Ce y l o n t y p e " an d " Riksh a s,"

bu t Mr . Lo ve n t h a l t h in ks it is t h e k in g him self, an d u r ges th at it is
n ot

likely t h a t t h e sa m e Vis h n u wor sh ip p er s wh o ch ose a Ga r u d a n

figure for th e ob ver s e of t h eir coin s wou ld p u t a " Riksh a s," th e ve r y

zyxwvutsrqp

e n e m y of

t h e god s, on

t h e r ever se.

Th is

figure

wa s aft er war d s

a d op t ed b y t h e Ch o la s of Ce ylo n an d b y t h e ot h er Ch ola s for t h eir

coin a ge.

8. Obverse.The Ga r u d a n .
Reverse.The figure of t h e kin g, b a t t le - a xe , a n d m oon .

Nos.

7 an d

8 ar e t h ou gh t to d a t e from th e sixt h or seven t h

cen t u r y to t h e twelfth cen t u r y A.D.

9. Obverse.The figure
Reverse.The figure

of t h e k in g st a n d in g.
of t h e k in g sea t ed , b a t t le - a xe a n d m oon .

10 . Obverse.Siva a n d P a r va t i.
Reverse.Battle-axe
wit h su n a n d m oon .
11.. Obverse.The
Ga r u d a n .
Reverse.A N a m a m wit h a Sa n ch u a n d s h a ccr a m on ea ch sid e.

As t h is coin is im p r essed wit h all Vish n u m a r ks it wou ld a p p ea r

t h a t t h e old d yn a s t y h ad b een abolish ed , or t h at th e state r eligion h ad
b een ch a n ge d from Sa ivis m

to t h e Va is h n a va

fa it h p r ob a b ly

th e

form er , as t h e b a t t le-a xe an d m oon , wh ich sh owed t h e kin g's d escen t,

a r e wa n t in g.

TH E

MADURA PANDYAN

COI NS.

T h e ea r liest cop p er coin s w e r e

1. Obverse.Bull
Reverse.The

wit h ou t t h e flower p ot .
Bu d d h is t sh a ccr a m .

2. Obverse.Horse a n d , in fr on t, t h e h o ly t r ee ( Bo d h i tr ee).
Reverse.As
N o . 2.
3. Obverse.The elep h a n t .
Reverse.A lion .

T h e s e coin s ar e foun d in th e r iver -b ed itself, n ear th e site of old

Ma d u r a .
4. T h e coin s n u m b er ed 5 a n d 6, u n d er " Ko r k e y P a n d ya n coin s."

The

Dominions,

zy
zyxw

Eblems,

and

Coins

zyxw

After the issue of the coins numbered 4, it is thought 1 that the

Madura Pandyans chose the fish mark as their dynastical emblem,
that is, when they left Buddhism, they changed the elephant mark and
took instead of it a pure Vishnu markthe fish.
The fish appears on their coins as follows :a.
b.
c.
d.

T h e fish s in gly wit h t h e su n a n d m oon in t h e field.

T w o fishes wit h eit h er a scep t r e or in scr ip t ion b et ween .
T w o fishes cr ossed .
T h e fish in t h e e xe r gu e , wit h a d a n cin g figure of Ga r u d a in t h e
field.

" The constant warfare which raged between Chola and Pandyan
not only renders it well nigh impossible at any particular time to fix
the exact boundaries of their respective territories, but also causes
considerable uncertainty in the identity of a large number of their
coins. When the Pandyans conquered, they appeared to have retained
the fish, adding thereto the Chola emblem ; and when the Cholas were
victorious they returned the compliment,"3 thus the following coins
appear:
a. T h e Ch o la n a m e of R A J A R A J A wit h Ch o la e m b le m a n d P a n d ya n
fish.
b. T h e n a m e of Su n d a r a P a n d ya n , a n d , on t h e ob ver s e, t h e s t a n d in g
figure of t h e Ch olas*
c. T h e b oa r of t h e Ch a lu k ya n d yn a s t y in co m b in a t io n wit h t h e t w o
fishes an d scep t r e of t h e P a n d ya n .
Pandy an
1. G o l d . W e i g h t 57 gr s.

Coins.

E llio t , N o . 12 9 .

Obverse.Two fishes u n d er a n u m b r ella , la m p on r igh t , fly wh isk on

left, su n a n d m oon a b o ve .
Reverse.Unread
N a ga r i le ge n d .
2. G o l d . W e i g h t 6"5 gr s.

E llio t , N o. 13 1.

Do u b t fu l.

fish.

Reverse.Figure
1

18 8 6, p. 159 , N o . 22.

M A L L A , " Lo ve r of W a r ."

Reverse.AHAVA
3. G o l d . W e i g h t 6'2 gr s.
Obverse.One

J.A.S.B.,

fishes.

Obverse.Two

Loven th al, p. 8.

befor e an a lt a r .
2

Tufnell's Hints, p. 11.

of

the

yxv
zy
zyxwvuts
Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

4. G o l d . W e i g h t 58-8 gr s.
Asiat. Res., vol. x v i i ;
P la t e 10 4, F igs . 9 a n d 11 ; E llio t , p. 119 .
Obverse.Fish
o n ly.

Moor 's Hin

Pan.,

Reverse.Ancient
N a ga r i le ge n d u n r ea d .
5. Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 133. Lo ve n t h a l, Nos. 69, 70 .
Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.Fish
on eit h er sid e of scep t r e flanked b y la m p s. Ab o ve in
T a m i l V I R A P A N D YA .
6. Co p p e r . Tu fn ell, N o . 15.
Obverse.Dancing figure of Ga r u d a t o r igh t .
Reverse.Tam il
le ge n d S A M A R A K O L A H A L A .
7. Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 134.
Obverse.Garuda
t o r igh t wit h s a n ka a n d ch a k r a a b ove.
Reverse.-As N o . 6.
8. Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 135.
Obverse.Garuda
k n e e lin g on t h e fish.
Reverse.Tam il
legen d S A M A R A I C O L A H A L A N .
9. Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 136.
Obverse.Standing figure wit h t wo ch a r a ct er s t o r igh t .
Reverse.Fish
b et ween la m p s : m a r gin S A M A R A K O L A H A L A .
10 . Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 137.
Obverse.As N o. 9.
Reverse.Two fishes su r r ou n d ed b y T a m i l legen d S A M A R A K O L A H ALA.
11. Co p p e r . E lliot , N o. 138 .
Obverse.Garuda
ca r r yin g a b ow.
Reverse.Tam il
le ge n d B H U V A N E K A V I R A N .
12. Cop p er . E llio t , N o . 139.
Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.In old T a m i l K O R K A I A N D A R = " Ru le r of ICor kai."
13. Cop p er . Tu fn e ll, N o . 14. E llio t , N o . 114 .
Obverse.Two fishes cr ossed wit h scep t r e a n d m oon .
Reverse.KANCHI
V E L A N K U N P E R U M A L = th e k in g wh o ga ve
b a ck Ka n ch i (or Co n je e ve r a m ) .
14. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 8.
Obverse.Two
fishes.
Reverse.SRI
A V A N I | P A S E G A R A N | G O L A G A in Ta m il = " t h e
r ou n d coin of t h e glor iou s Ava n ip a s e k h a r a " (i.e., t h e o r n a m e n t of
p r in ces).
15. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 9.
Obverse.A s t a n d in g figure fa cin g t h e right.
Reverse.SONA
| D U ICO | N D A N in Ta m il = " H e wh o con q u er ed
t h e Ch o la cou n t r y." ( So n a d u b e in g a con t r a ct ion of So la n a d u .)

The
16. Co p p e r .

Dominions,

zy
zyxwvu

Eblems,

Se e Lo ve n t h a l, N os . 71 t o 75.

and Coins

Obverse.Seated
figure.
Reverse.Sceptre
b e t we e n t wo fishes wit h n a m e
P A N D Y A in T a m i l a b ove.
17. Co p p e r .

KU LASE KH AR A

Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 10 .

Obverse.Standing figure fa cin g t h e r igh t .

Reverse.Two fishes;
b et ween t h e m in T a m i l E L - L A - N T A - L A I YA N A N = E lla n - t a la iy- a n a n = " H e wh o is ch ie f of t h e wo r ld ."
( Su n d a r a P a n d ya .)
18 . Co p p e r .

Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 9 2, N o . 11.

Obverse.As N o . 17.
Reverse.The
t wo fishes
T A L A I YA .
19. Co p p e r .

su r r ou n d ed

b y T a m i l le ge n d

E LLAN -

Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o. 12 .

Obverse.A s t a n d in g figure wit h t h e T a m i l s ylla b le S U on t h e r igh t

sid e.
Reverse.A fish b e t we e n t wo la m p s , s u r r ou n d ed b y T a m i l le ge n d
E L L A N T A L A I YA .
20 . Co p p e r .

Lo ve n t h a l, N o s . 78 , 79 .

Obverse.Fish

a n d scep t r e.

Reverse.One

or t wo let t er s o f Su n d a r a P a n d ya ' s n a m e in Ta m il.

2 1. Co p p e r .

Lo ve n t h a l, N o s . 80, 8 1.

Obverse.The s t a n d in g figure.
Reverse.Portions
of Su n d a r a P a n d ya ' s n a m e in Ta m i l.
22. Co p p e r .

" P o d i K a s u " ( P o wd e r Ca s h ) of t h e N a t ive s .

Lo ve n t h a l,

N o s . 8 2 -8 5.
Obverse.Portions
Reverse.The first
23. Co p p e r .

of t h e s t a n d in g figure.
let t er of Su n d a r a P a n d ya ' s n a m e in Ta m i l.

E llio t , N o . 140 .

Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse Se a t e d figure, a n d T a m i l le ge n d K U N A
24. Co p p e r .

P A N D YA .

E llio t , N o . 14 1.

Obverse.Sceptre
b e t we e n t wo fishes u n d er a cr escen t .
Reverse.SUNDARA
P A N D Y A in Ta m i l.
25. Co p p e r .

E llio t , N o . 142.

Obverse.Horse
Reverse.Sceptre
fly wh is ks .

ga llo p in g t o r igh t u n d er t h r ee s ym b o ls .
b e t we e n t wo fishes ; a b o ve a b u ll t o left

wit h

of
26. Co p p e r .

the

yxv
zy
zyxwvut

Soth

E llio t , N o . 143.

Indian

Dynasties.

33

Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.Crocodile to left, K E a b ove a n d a cr a b or scor p ion , t wo
fishes fa cin g in wa r d s b elow.
27. Co p p e r .

E llio t , N o . 146.

Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.Seated figure a n d scep t r e b e t we e n t wo fishes.
28. Co p p e r .

E llio t , N o . 150 .

zyxwv

Obverse.Bull t o r igh t wit h su n a n d m oon a b ove.

Reverse.Sceptre
b e t we e n t wo fishes.

The Pandyan copper coins are chiefly found in Madura, and occur
in three sizes, weighing 60, 24, and 9 grains respectively. The gold
coins are very rare.
The coins of Sundara Panclya (Pandya the beautiful) are found in
such large quantities in Southern India that it is possible that they
were the issues of several kings who bore this title. Sundara was also
the name of the husband of Minatchi, the goddess of Madura.
The following copper coins, which bear no legend, are attributed
by Tufnell1 to the Madura Pandyan kings from the fact of their being
found in considerable numbers and often in conjunction with Pandyan
issues at the old Pandyan headquarters, and the certainty that the
people were ardent worshippers of Siva in the form mentioned :
1. Obverse.The
Siva ), wh ich
b, su r r ou n d ed
Reverse.Two

lin ga m (t h e p h a llic e m b le m of t h e wor sh ip p er s of

a p p ea r s on t h e coin s :
p la in , Tu fn ell, N o. 16 ;
b y a r ow of d o t s ; c, in a " v i m a n a " or sh r in e.
s t a n d in g figures.

2. Obverse.The lin ga m : a, on t h e b a ck of a b u ll (t h e sacr ed bu ll b ein g

t h e favou r ite a t t e n d a n t of Siva ), Tu fn ell, N o. 17 ; b, on a bir d
(p ossib ly in con n ect ion wit h Min a ksh i, Siva 's wife, t h e god d es s of
Ma d u r a ) .
Reverse.Two
s t a n d in g figures.

Tufnell's Hints, p. 16.

zyxwvutsr
zy
zyxw
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

COI NAGE OF TH E NAYAICAS OF MADURA.

I., A.D. 1557-63 ; Visvanatha II.,

Visvanatha III., A.D. 1595-1602
Visvanatha

A.D.

1573-95;

1. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 14. T r a c y P a n d ya n coin s, Madr. Jr.

Lit. and Sc., 18 8 7-8 , N o . 9.
Obverse.Standing figure fa cin g r igh t .
Reverse.A scep t r e b e t we e n t wo fishes, s u r m o u n t e d b y a cr escen t , a n d
su r r ou n d ed b y t h e Ta m i l- Gr a n t h a le ge n d V I - N - S V A - D A - N A .
2. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o. 15.
Obverse.A scep t r e b e t we e n t wo fishes.
Reverse.A
cr escen t ; b elow t h e Ta m i l- Gr a n t h a
N AD A- N .

le ge n d

VI S VA-

3. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o . 16.

Obverse.A scep t r e b et ween t wo fishes ; a b ove t h em t h e Ta m i l le ge n d
P A N - D I YA N .
Reverse.As
N o . 2.

" This coin shows that he wanted to be considered the rightful

successor of the Pandya dynasty,"(Dr. Hultzsch.)
Tirum ala,

A.D. 16 2 3 - 59"

4. Co p p e r . E llio t , N o . 144.
Obverse.A scep t r e b et ween t wo fishes.
Reverse.A s t a n d in g figure; u n d er t h e a r m in T a m i l T E R U M A L A I .
Qiieen

Minakshi,

A.D.

1731-36

5. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 2 1.

Obverse.Lion fa cin g t h e r igh t .
Reverse.MINA-TCHI
in Ta m il.

Minakshi is also the name of the goddess of Madura, so the reverse

may refer to the goddess, or to the queen, or to both at the same
time.
6. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o . 22.
Obverse.As N o . 5.
Reverse.MADU-RAI
in Ta m i l.
7. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o . 23.
Obverse.MADHURA
in Te lu gu .
Reverse M A D U - R A I in T a m i l .

yxv
zy

zyxw
zyxwvutsrq
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

33

Dr. Hultzsch remarks " the obverse of No. 6 connects this coin
with No. 5. The bilingual coin No. 7 agrees with No. 6 in the
reverse, which bears the Tamil name of the city of Madura, whilst its
Telugu equivalent occupies the obverse."
8. Co p p e r .

Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o . 8.

Obverse.A s t a n d in g figure.
Reverse.Concave,
S R I - M I - N AKS H I .
Mudit

Krishna,

9. Co p p e r .

A.D. I

602-9

Dr . H u lt zs ch , Coins of the Kings of Vijay anagara,

Obverse.TIRU-VE-MGA
Ve n k a t a . "
Reverse.MUDU

[ L A] in Te lu gu = " T h e h o ly [m ou n t a in of]

K R I S H N A in Te lu gu .

COI N S PROBABLY OF TH E NAYAICAS OF

MADURA ISSUED

OF

TH EIR NOMINAL SOVEREIGN VE N KATA,

VIJ AYANAGARA.
1. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o. 17.
Obverse.A s t a n d in g figure.
Reverse.VEMKA-TAPA
in Te lu gu .

2. Co p p e r .

N o. 38.

IN TH E NAME

TH E PAGEANT

Kl N G OF

Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 18.

Obverse.Three s t a n d in g figures.
Reverse.VEMKA
| [ T A] P A N A | [ Y A K A ] in Te lu gu .
3. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o. 37.

E lliot , N o . 177.

Obverse.-Vishnu s t a n d i n g; on h is r igh t a fish.

Reverse.VEMKA-TAPA
in Te lu gu .
4. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 39.

Obverse.A k n e e lin g figure of Ga r u d a fa cin g t h e left.

Reverse.VE M K A T A in Te lu gu .
Other

coins probably

of the Nay akas

of

Maditra.

5. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o . 9.

Obverse. [ M A] D [ I ] R AI in Ta m il.
Reverse.TAN
C H A I in Gr a n t h a .

" Madirai or Madurai and Tanjai are Tamil names of the two
towns Madhura and Tanj'avur."(Dr. Hultzsch.)
VOL. i x .

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

6. Co p p e r , hid. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 19.

Obverse.A k n e e lin g figu r e fa cin g t h e r igh t .
Reverse.VI-RABHA-DRA
in Gr a n t h a .

7. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o . 20 .

Obverse.A k n e e lin g figure of Ga r u d a fa cin g t h e r igh t .
Reverse.S R I - A- N A M T A in ICan ar ese.

zyxwvu

8. S i l v e r . W e i g h t 31 gr s. Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o . 7.

Obverse.A m a le figure, s q u a t t in g, we a r in g ea r -r in gs, a n d h o ld in g a
b o w in t h e r igh t h a n d .
Reverse.SRI-VIRA
in Te lu gu .

" Copper coins with the same legend are found in endless numbers
and varieties in Madhura. But no second specimen in silver is
known. Sir W. Elliot attributed two copper coins of this series (Nos.
94 and 95) to the Kakatiyas or the Reddis. But, though the legend
of these coins is engraved in Telug"u characters, their finding place,
Madhura,forces us to connect themas was first done by the Rev. E.
Loventhal in his Coins of Tinnevelly , Madras, 18 8 0 , p. 20-with the
only Telugu dynasty which is known to have resided there, viz., the
Nayakas. The legend S R I V I R A may refer to, and may have been
started by, one of the four different Nayakas who bore the name
Virappa."1
9. The following devices appear on the obverse of the copper coins
in my collection found in the Madura district, which bear the Telugu
legend S R I V I R A on the reverse :
All these coins, with the exceptions of Nos. 5, 15, 20, and 28, are
illustrated on P LATE I :
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

H a n u m a n fa cin g r igh t .
Ga n es a .
I r h u ce.
Sq u a t t in g
N a r a s in h a
(t h e
lion -fa ced form of Vis h n u ) ,
N o . 1 size.
Sim ila r , N o . 2 size.
Sq u a t t in g go d a n d go d d e s s ,
N o . 1 size.
Sim ila r , N o . 2 size.
Man .
1

9.
10 .
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18 .
19 .

T w o figures on u n r ea l figure.
T w o m e n s t a n d in g.
T w o figures on b ir d t o r igh t .
O n e figure on b ir d t o r igh t .
O n e figure on b ir d t o left.
E le p h a n t t o r igh t .
E le p h a n t t o left.
Sq u a t t in g or d a n cin g gir l.
Bu ll t o r igh t .
Bu ll t o left, in t wo sizes.
Lio n t o r igh t , N o . 1 size.

Dr. H ultzsch, Ind. Ant., 1896, p. 318 .

of
20.
2 1.
22.
23.
24.

the

Soth

Indian
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.

Lio n to left, N o. 2 size.

Bir d to left.
F lyin g bird.
H or se t o left.
Va d h m a va m a r k.

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
33

zyxw

T h e lin ga m .
St a r .
Su n an d m oon , t wo varieties.
Su n , m oon , an d sword.
Sq u a t t in g figure.

zyx

Copper coins bearing the Telugu legend S R I V I R A on the reverse

are also found in the Tinnevelly district with various devices on the
obverse. These are figured, Nos. 92 to 123, in Loventhal's Coins of
Tinnevelly }
With regard to these coins Mr. Loventhal remarks :
" The earlier of the Madura Nayakas must have thought it wise not to
dethrone the old Pandya rajahs but even allow them to have their own
coinage, at least for a time ; for just about that period a new coinage was
introduced in Madura district with a Garudan on the obverse, and - on
the reverse either the traditional twofishes and a sceptre, or one of the
names ' Samarakolakalan' or ' Puvanekaviran ' in Tamil characters.
These coins seem, however, not to have been current in Tinnevelly . . .
but in place of them wefind a whole series of Nayaka coins, evidently
of much earlier date than those we get either from Madura or Trichinopoly districts. From this it would seem that the Nayakas of Madura
did not find it necessary to have the same regard to the old dynasty
in Tinnevelly district as they did in Madura itself, but began immediately to issue coins there with their own marks. . . . Nearly all
the Nayaka coins from Madura and Trichinopoly, and also the coins
of the Vellore Rayars have that inscription ( S R I V I R A ) on the
reverse, only those from Tinnevelly being different, so they are easy to
recognize. The Tinnevelly coins are also, as a rule, of a better workmanship and larger than the others. Of all the coins belonging to
this series .those with the Hanuman mark are by far the most
common. I have about 200 copies of them, and as they differ very
much one from another, they must have been current for a long
time. I have even reason to believe that they have been carried
down to the time of the Nawabs. But what then about all the rest ; to
whom do these numerous coins with all different marks belong ?
It would nearly seem impossible to ascribe them all to the chief line of
1

Also see Plate I.

z2

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

E7nblems,

and

Coins

Nayakas. Have they . . . given the right of striking coins

to some of their Polygars, or in what other way can we explain
that multitude of marks on the coins from that period ? . . . As long
as the Vijayanagara rajahs continued to rule, that is to the year 1565,
the old heraldry was, at least to some degree, kept up, but from that
time . . .
all historical marks on the coins were done away
with, and every petty rajah put his own favourite idol on his coins,
and whenever he got tired of one he chose another. . . . The
coins from this period have an interest of their own, which the older
and more historical have not. . . . They form a sort of Hindu
Pantheon, en m iniature. There had been a new revival of Brahminism,
the Vijayanagara rajahs and the earlier of the Nayakas had built the
grand temples of South India and adorned them with a multitude of
sculptures, and now their successors put all these "swamis " from the
temples and mandapas 011 their small button-like coins, one rajah trying
to surpass another in putting the most curious and fantastic figures on
his coins. Although the Hindu coins from North India are more
historical in their way, they are not a true image of the Hindu mind ;
the Muhammadan influence h a vin g- been so overwhelming there, that it

zyxwvut
zyxwv
O

'

has pressed its own features even upon the Hindu coinage. This is not
the case in South India, and especially the coins from this period are a
true picture
of the Hindu,
m ind.
Free from all heraldic restraints it
shows itself here in all its fantastic splendour, such as it was at the
time, and in this way these coins, without historical marks, form an
historical witness of the last revival of Brahmanism, now rapidly fading
away before the light of European civilization, never to revive again."1
The following copper coins2 may have been struck at Madura at
the commencement of the rule of the Nawabs of the Ivarnatik or they
may be Polygar coins :
Obverse.Various
Reverse.NAWAB,

H in d u id ols, a n im a ls, et c.
or M A H A - N A W A B , or S A H I B in Ta m i l.
TH E

CH OLA DYN ASTY.

The Cholas occupied their position on the Coromandel (or more

properly Cholamundel) coast before the Christian era. Their dominions
1

Loven thal, p. 20 (slightly adapted).

Ibid., p. 22.

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

extended northward to the Pennar River, and the capital was Uraiyur,
perhaps the Orthoura of Ptolemy. About the seventh century the
capital was transferred to Malaikurram (Cumbaconum), later to
Gangandaram (Gangaikonda - Solapuram), and finally to Tanjore.
Their power was in the ascendant from early in the eleventh to the
middle of the thirteenth century, and extended from the Godaveri to
Cape Comorin. About the middle of the thirteenth century the
Hoysala Ballalas exercised considerable control over their dominions,
and afterwards the Muhammadan conquest of the south took place.
Their cognizance was a tiger.

zyxwv
zy

Coinage
Rajendra-Chola

Deva

I.,

of the

Cholas.

surnam ed

Gangaikonda

Chola

1. I m p u r e s ilve r .W e igh t 62 grs. Elliot , No. 152. Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92,
No. 7.
Obverse an d reverse.The sam e, viz., in th e cen t r e a seat ed t iger facin g
r igh t wit h t wo fishes in front an d a b ow b eh in d , t h e wh ole bet ween
t wo la m p s su r m ou n t ed b y a p ar asol an d t wo fly-whisks ; u n d er n eat h
th e legen d in N a ga r i G A M G A I K O N D A - C H O L A [ H ] = " T h e
Ch ola [kin g] wh o con q u er ed t h e Ga n ga ." Ga n ga ikon d a -Sola p u r a m
b ein g th e n a m e of a r u in ed cit y in on e of t h e t a lu ks of th e
Tr ich in o p o ly d ist r ict .
Raja

Raja

Deva,

A.D.

984

2. I m p u r e s ilve r .W e igh t 51-5 gr s.

hit. Ant., Dec., 18 96, No. 1.

Obverse.The t yp ica l sq u a t t in g figure; u n d er its left ar m a t iger ,

seat ed facin g th e left, flanked b y t wo la m p s, an d su r m ou n t ed b y a
p ar asol.
Reverse.As No. 1, b u t N a ga r i legen d S R I - R AJ AR A- [ J AD E VAH ] ,
Rajendra-Chola

Deva

I.

3. I m p u r e s ilve r .W e igh t 30 gr s. Lid. Ant., Dec., 18 96, No. 2.

Obve7'se an d reverse.The
sa m e as No. 2, b u t N a ga r i
R AJ E N D R A- CH O L A.
Parakesarivarm an,

alias

Rajendra

legen d

Deva

4. I m p u r e s ilve r .W e igh t 62"6 gr s. E llio t , No. 153. Ind. Ant., Nov.,

18 92, p. 323. As No. r, bu t N a ga r i legen d S R I R A J E N D R A H .

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxw
The

Kulottunga

Chola

Dominions,

Eblems,

I., surnam edRajanaray ana,

and

Coins

A.D. 1 0 7 0

5. Go ld . W e i gh t 61 "5 gr s. Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o . 26. F o u n d n ear

Ma su lip a t a m .
Centre.A t iger facin g r igh t su r m ou n t ed b y t h e su n , t h e figure of a flywh isk bear er (?) an d a cr e s ce n t ; b elow t h e t iger 's h ead , t h e Te lu gu
n u m er al 6 for t h e yea r of t h e r eign of k i n g ; m a r gin in Te lu gu
S R I - C H [ 0 ] L A N A R A YA N A .
6. Go ld . W e i gh t 61*5 gr s. Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o. 27.
Centre.A t iger (?) facin g left, a n d su r m ou n t ed b y t h e su n an d a
cr e s ce n t ; m a r gin as N o. 5.
Other

kings

7. Gold . Elliot , N o . 165.

Obverse.Standing figure wit h cr escen t , fish b elow four dots.
Reverse.Seated figure a n d R A J A R AJ A.
8. G o l d W e i g h t 7-2 gr s. Elliot , N o. 155.
Obverse.Tiger in t h e cen t r e facin g r igh t , su r m ou n t ed b y t h e im p er ia l
u m br ella, bet ween t h e bow on left a n d t wo fishes on right.
Reverse.Nagari legen d Y U D D H A M A L L A H .
9. Go ld . W e i gh t 6 7 gr s. Elliot , No. 156.
Obverse.Fish an d t iger sea t ed u n d er a cr escen t .
Reverse. N o t p lain .
10 . Go ld . W e i gh t 50 -6 0 gr s.
Obverse a n d reverse.The
fish, over t h e h ead of
in Gr a n t h a ch ar act er s

Elliot , N o. 151.
sam e, viz., a t iger seat ed left, op p osit e it a
ea ch an elep h a n t go a d a n d beh in d t h e t iger
U T T AM A- CH O L AN .

11. I m p u r e s ilve r .We igh t 62-6 gr s. E lliot , No. 154.

Obverse.As No. 1.
Reverse.Nagari legen d U T T A M A - C H O L A H .

zyxw

As the Cholas struck coins during their occupation of Rajamahendri, or Vengi, in the Chalukya territory, several of the above refer
to the Chola-Chalukya period. The constant warfare waged between
the Cholas, Pandyans, and Cheras caused great variations in the
emblems on the coins of these dynasties, the Pandyans adding the
Chola emblem, and the Cholas adding the Pandyan fish to commemorate
their victories.

of

the

Soth

Indian

C H O L A CO P P E R

yxv
zy
zyxwv

Dynasties

CO I N S .

33

" Their coins are usually distinguishable by the rudefigure of a man

standing upright (said to be a ' rakshasa or the king2 himself), with head
thrown back, and apparently holding in front of his face a flower. In his
pendent right arm he holds a weapon (?). A straight line between
his legs, and a wavy line on either side, mark his flowing ' duputa '
or cloth, and under his left arm usually appear five dots. The reverse
bears a similar figure curled up in an uncomfortable position, with legs
crossed, its right hand resting on the right leg. Beneath the left arm
we usuallyfind the name of the king, or rarely some emblem, such as
the Pandyan fish."3

zyxwvutsr

Obverse.-The st a n d in g figure as d escr ibed .

Reverse.The seated figure as d escr ibed , R A J A R A J A in Na ga r i
t o the r igh t . Elliot , No. 166 ; Tu fn ell, No. 6.

These coins are found in Madura and Tanjore in considerable

numbers and used to be melted by the coppersmiths. They occur
in three sizes, weighing 6o, 24, and 9 grains respectively. They were
issued by " Raja Raja, the greatest of the Chola princes, who ruled
in the eleventh century A.D., when the power of his race was at its
zenith. So plentiful are they that one cannot help being led to the
conclusion that all those one meets with, bearing his name, could more
probably be attributed to a line of kings than all be issues of a single
sovereign."3 These coins are found also in large numbers all over
Southern India from the northern boundary of the Chola country down
to Cape Comorin, " and although they have the same marks 011 them,
still one has so different an appearance from another, that they could
positively not be from the same time and the same king. I have no
doubt that they have been currency in Chola country for centuries."4
The coins of the Chola branch line in Ceylon bearing the name
R A J A R A J A may be distinguished by ( 1) t h e figures standing out in
bolder relief ; (2) the Nagari letters being of a squarer type ; and (3) the
square edgesthose of the Indian type being worn thin. "Th ese
1
3

Elliot.
Tufnell's Hints, p. 11.

2
4

Loventhal.
Loventhal, p. 19.

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

zyx
zyxwvutsr

coins were struck by the kings of Kandy, the Indian Chola coin being
in all probability the prototype. The incursions of the Cholas would
naturally lead to the introduction of their coins, and it is more than
probable that this led to the coinage of the series in the island."1
1. E lliot , No. 158 .
Obverse.Seated figure, R A J A R A J A u n d er t h e ar m .
Reverse.Boar t o left, V I R A in Ta m il above.
2. Elliot , No. 159.
Obverse.Standing figure wit h cr escen t a b ove.
Reverse.-Boar, sun, m oon , an d la m p a b ove a scr oll.
3. E llio t , N o . 160 .
Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.Two fishes su r r ou n ded b y R A J A R AJ A.
4. E lliot , No. 16 1.
Obverse.Standing figure. .
Reverse.Seated figure, fish a n d scep t r e u n d er t h e ar m .
5. Elliot , N o. 162. or | sizes.
Obverse.Seated figure a n d R A J A R AJ A .
Reverse.Horsem an bet ween t wo u m br ellas, ga llo p in g r igh t .
6. Elliot , No. 163. \ or
sizes.
Obverse.Seated figure.
Reverse.Two h or ses an d rider, u m br ellas a b ove.
7. E lliot , No. 164.
Obverse.Standing figure of Kr ish n a as t h e flute p la yer .
Reverse.Seated figure an d R A J A R AJ A.
8. Elliot , No. 167. i size. Tu fn ell,
Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.Bull to r igh t , sun an d
t h e bu ll, p er h ap s t h e in it ial
9. E llio t , No. 169.
size.
Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.Bull to r igh t , cr escen t

No. 13.
m oon . N a ga r i let t er
( V) in fron t of
of th e r oya l n a m e Vikr a m a .

a b o ve ; cr ozier or sh ell in fron t.

10 . E lliot , No. 170 .

size.
Obverse.Standing figure, lozen ge en closin g p ellet in front.
Reverse.Seated figure wit h a xe on its r igh t .
11. Elliot , N o. 171. J size.
Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.Elephant
to left, sa n kh a a b ove its h ead , also an in scr ip t ion .
1

Tufnell, p. 13.

of

the

yxv
zy
zyxwvut
Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

12. Elliot , No. 173. size.

Obverse.Standing bu ll to left, la m p in front.
Reverse.KON E R I R A YA N .

CO P P E R

CO I N S P R OBABLY OF TH E

N AYAI CAS

OF

T AN J O R E .

35

zyx

The following coins, with the exception of Nos. 15 and 18, are
illustrated on P L AT E I :
1.

Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.Sitting figure an d st an d in g figure.

2.

Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.-Sitting figure.

3.

Obverse.Standing figure in dotted circle.

Reverse.Standing figure in lin ed circle.

4.

Obverse.Hanum an.
Reverse.Two sit t in g figures.

5.

Obverse.Garuda.
Reverse.Two st a n d in g figures.

6.

Obverse.Hanum an.
Reverse.Standing figure.

7.

Obverse.Garuda.
Reverse.-Tam il ch ar acter s.

8.

Obverse.Hanum an.
Reverse.C ha racters.

9.

Obverse.Three sit t in g figures.

Reverse.Characters.

10. Obverse.Three st a n d in g figures, t wo u su ally ap p ear in g on the

arm s of th e th ird.
Reverse.Characters.
11. Obverse.Standing figure.
Reverse.C ha rac te rs.
12. Obverse.Hanum an r id in g a h orse to left with a spear in his h an d.
Reverse.Sitting figure.
13. Obverse.Standing
Reverse.Star.

figure.

14. Obverse.Figure r id in g on bird.

Reverse.-Characters.
15.

Obverse.Um brella.
Reverse.Characters.

34

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvutsrqp
The

16 .

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

Obverse.Tortoise.

Reverse.-Characters.

17.

Obverse.-Lion.
Reverse.Ch a r a ct e r s .

18 . Obverse.God

zyxwvu

a n d go d d e s s s e a t e d .

N a g a r i R A G H U - N A T H A (t h ir d N a y a k a ? Ind.,

ReverseIn

18 9 6 , N o . i s ) .

Ant.,

The Nayakas of Tanjore were succeeded by the Mahratta Rajas

of Tanjore, A.D. 1 6 7 6 - 1 8 5 5 . In 17 9 9 Tanjore was ceded to the East
India Company, which agreed to pay one-fifth of the net revenue to the
rajah. On the death of the last of the line, in 1855, the house became
extinct, and Tanjore became British territory.
COP P E R CO I N S OF TAN J OR E .
1. Obverse.In
Reverse

Ind.

Ant.,

Dec.,

18 9 6 ,

Nos.

9 - 12 .

Ta m il [ M A] D [ I ] R AI = Mad u r a.
I n Gr a n t h a T A N C H A I = T a n j a v u r = T a n j o r e .

2. Obverse.A

p la n t .
N o . 1.

Reverse.As

3. ObverseA
s t a r or flower.
Reverse.-As N o . 1.
4 . ObverseThe
Reverse.As

su n wit h in a cr e s ce n t .
N o . 1.

TH E

SE TU P ATI S OF R AM N AD.

Their dominions were bounded on the north by Tanjore and

Shevaganga, and on the south and east by the sea. The inhabitants
are Maravas and believed to be the oldest caste in the country. Their
first chief, or Setupati, " Lord of the Bridge," is said to have been
appointed by Rama for the purpose of guarding the bridge of rocks
crossing the Gulf of Manar to Ceylon. " The Setupatis were long
subject to the Pandyans, but at last became their masters, and remained
so for eleven generations, and during three reigns ruled over all the
extreme south of India." At last they were driven to the south of the
Kaveri by a Karamba prince, and the Rajah of Vijayanagara took from
them Tanjore and Madura. Muttu Krishnappa of Madura re-established

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrq

their dynasty about 1605, which lasted till 1733. From 1733 to 1772
this country was in constant warfare with the Mahrattas, Maisureans,
and the Nawabs of the Karnatik. At the instigation of one of the
latter, the British captured Ramnad in 1772. In 1790 the Ramnad
territories paid tribute to the East India Company, when British officials
were appointed.
Go ld fan am s.

J.A.S.B.,

18 8 6, p. 158 .

N os . 20 , 2 1.

1. Obverse.Figure
s t a n d in g befor e a la m p .
Reverse.A god d es s ( La k s h m i ?) sea t ed on t h e lot u s sea t .
2. Obverse.-As N o . 1.
Reverse.A wa r r ior h o ld in g a clu b .
Co p p e r .

E llio t , N o . 172.

Obverse.Standing
figure.
Reverse.Bull
cou ch a n t t o left, cr escen t a b ove, S E T U in T a m i l b elow.

T H E VIJ AYANAGARA

DYN ASTY.

This kingdom was one of the most important that ever existed in
Southern India and was the last great Hindu power. It rose into
prominence between A.D. 1336 and 1350. Before this time an
adventurer from the south, named Sangama, possessed himself of
Seringapatam and gradually obtained possession of the Hoysala
dominions. His third son, Bukka, first assumed regal titles. He was
assisted by his learned minister Madhava, also called Vidyaranya, and
fixed his capital at Anegundi, which was afterwards called Vijayanagara
= the city of victory, and sometimes Vidanagara = the city of learning, in
honour of his minister. For some time its dominions were confined to the
neighbourhood of the capital, but when at the zenith of its power it ruled
the greater part of Karnata, Telingana, and the Kanara coast. In
1565 the Vijayanagara army, under Rama Raja, the usurper, was
defeated at Talikota by a combination of the four Muhammadan
principalities of the Dakhan, and the power of Vijayanagara was
shattered. It was from a descendant of Rama Raja that the East
India Company received the deed in 1640, handing over the site of
Madras.

34

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyx
The

The

Dominions,

Cognizance

of

the

Eblems,

Kings

of

and Coins

Vijay anagara.

The " varaha," or boar " avatar," with a sword, is said to have
been introduced by Madhava. The bull, elephant, garuda, and Ghunda
Bhairunda appear on the coins at various times. Krishna Rava, the
greatest prince, is described on a copper plate as "a very Ghunda
Bhairunda to the herds of elephants that are his foes." The fabulous
double-headed eagle, or Ghunda Bhairuncla, is represented as holding
an elephant in each beak and claw. In Indian legend the garuda, the
winged vehicle of Vishnu, is the king of birds and has but one head.
It is the emblem of strength and speed.

zyxwvutsrq
Coins

Harihara

of

/ . , A.D.

the

Kings

of

Vijay anagara.

1336-50

1. Go ld h a lf p a g o d a . W e i g h t 25-3 gr s. E llio t , N os . 9 6 , 9 7 ; H u lt zs ch , N o . 2 ;
C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 25.
Obverse.God a n d go d d e s s sea t ed .
Reverse.SRI-PRA
| T A P A - H A R I | H A R A in N a ga r i.

On some specimens the attributes of the two sitting figures are

distinctly Vaishnava; on others it is doubtful if they are meant for
Saiva or Vaishnava attributes.1
2. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 3 ; Ind. Ant., vol. x x , p. 30 2.
Obverse.Bull fa cin g r i g h t : a b ove, t h e m oon .
Reverse.PRATAPA
| H A R I H A R A in N a ga r i.
3. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 1 ; hid. Ant., N ov., 18 92.
Obverse.Bull
fa cin g r i g h t ; in fr on t a swor d ; a b ove, a fou r -p oin t ed
st a r .
Reverse.PRATAPA-HA
| R A H A R A in N a ga r i.
Bukkaray a

/ . , A.D.

1350-79, brother of Harihara I.

Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52 gr s . J.A.S.B.,
18 8 3, p. 42, N o . 9 ;
N o . 1.
Obverse.A r u d e figure of Ga r u d a fa cin g r igh t .
Reverse.S R I - V I | [ R A J - B U K A | [ R J A YA in Ka n a r e s e .
1

Dr. H ultzsch, " T h e

Ind. Ant., vol. xx.

H u lt zs ch ,

Coin s of the Kin gs of Vijayan agara," published in the

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsr
zyxwvuts
of

Harihara

II.,

the

A.D.

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

1379-1401, son and successor of Bukka I.

1. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 51'5 gr s. F r o m t h e An a n t a p u r d ist r ict . Ind. Ant.,

De c., 18 96, N o . 3.
Obverse.A r u d e figure of Ga r u d a k n e e lin g t owa r d s t h e r igh t .
Reverse.S R I - V I | R A - H A R I | H A R A in Ka n a r ese.
2. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant., Dec., 18 96, N o . 4. T h i s
H a r ih a r a I.
Obverse.Hanum an
a d va n cin g t o t h e r igh t .
Reverse.HARI
| H A R A in N a ga r i.
Devaray a,

A.D.

coin

m a y b e lo n g

to

14 0 1- 5 1

1. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52 gr s. H u lt zs ch , N o . 4 ; C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e
x x x , 26.
Obverse.God a n d go d d e s s sea t ed .
Reverse.SRI-PRA
| T A P A - D E V A | R A Y A in N a ga r i.
2. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52^5 gr s. Bid ie, N o . 11 ; H u lt zs ch , N o. 5.
Obverse.-As N o . 1.
Reverse.SRI-PRA
| T A P A - D C V A | R A Y A in N a ga r i. ( Som et im es '
D ^ VA. )

The obverse on this coin, according to Dr. Bidie, is " Siva and
Parvati seated, and with the sun and moon overhead. In some there
is just a trace of the deer to the right of Parvati; in some Siva
holds in his right hand the ' Damaru' or drum ; and in some it grasps
the club or Khatwanga. In one the right hand holds something
suspiciously like the Chank, but it is probably intended to represent his
bow."1 The forms of this coin differ slightly as they have evidently
been struck from different dies. " The type of the obverse of this
pagoda appears to have been a favourite device, as not only was it
adopted by subsequent sovereigns of the dynasty, but also by the
Nayaks of Bednur, who were vassals of Vijayanagara, as well as by
Hyder, and Krishna Raja Wodeyar of Mysore."2
3. Go ld h a lf p a go d a .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 6.

As N o . 2.

4. Go ld q u a r t er p a go d a . H u lt zs ch , N o . 7.
Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g le ft ; a b ove, t h e su n a n d m oon .
Reverse.SRI-DEVA
| R A Y A in N a ga r i.
1

Dr. Bidie's " Pagoda or Varaha Coin s of Southern India "Jr. As. Soc. Beng., vol. li,
2 Bidie, p. 43.
Part 1, 1883, p. 44.

zyxwvuts
zy
zyxwvu
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

5. Go ld q u a r t er p a go d a . H u lt zs ch , N o . 8.
Obverse.As N o . 4.
Reverse.SRI-DE
| V A - R A Y A in N a ga r i.

zyxwvutsr

6. Silver . Ind. Ant., De c., 18 96, N o . 5.

Obverse.An e le p h a n t fa cin g t h e r igh t .
Reverse.A swor d , a n d t o t h e r igh t o f it, t h e N a ga r i le ge n d D E V A |
R A YA .

" This specimen is the only silver coin of the Vijayanagara kings
that has hitherto come to light."1 Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador, who
visited the capital of Vijayanagara during the reign of Devaraya,
mentions a silver, coin in circulation there at the time of his visit,
A.D. 1443, called " tar," which was equal to one-sixth of a fanam.
Besides this silver coin, he also mentions the gold coins : (1) " varaha " ;
(2) the " partab " or half varaha"The name 'partab,' which Abdur
Razzaq attributes to the half pagoda, is probably connected with the
surname Pratapa, which occurs before the names of Vijayanagara kings
both on coins and inscriptions ; (3) fanam, or one-tenth of a partab, but
no fanam bearing Devaraya's name has yet been discovered."2
7. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 9.
Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r i g h t ; a b ove, t h e Ka n a r e s e let t er A.
Reverse.PRAT
A | P A - D E V A | R A Y A in Ka n a r e s e .
8. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 10 .
Obverse.As
N o . 7, b u t co n ch
let t er A.
Reverse.As N o . 7.

t o left

and

d iscu s t o r igh t of t h e

9. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 11.
Obverse.Elephant, fa cin g r igh t .
Reverse.SRI-DEVA
| R A Y A in Ka n a r e s e ; u p r igh t s ce p t r e ,,wit h a
d iscu s on it s left a n d a co n ch on its r igh t , b e t we e n t h e t wo lin es o f
t h e legen d .
[0 . Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 12.
Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r i g h t ; a b ove, t h e su n a n d m oon , a n d t h e
Ka n a r e s e s ylla b le D E ( p r o b a b ly for D e va r a ya ) .
Reverse." R A Y A | G A J A G A M D A | B H E R U N D A " in N a ga r i =
" T h e d o u b le - h e a d e d e a gle wh ich sp lit s t h e t e m p le s o f k in gs ."
^ D r . H ultzsch, Ind. A7it., Dec., 1896, p. 318 .
2 Dr. H ultzsch, " T h e Coin s of the Kin gs of Vijayan agara," Ind. Ant.
l

of
11. Co p p e r .

the

yxv
zy
zyxwvut

Soth

H u lt zs ch , N o . 13.

Indian

Dynasties.

35

Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r i g h t ; a b ove, a co n ch a n d t h e in ver t ed
N a ga r i s ylla b le D E .
Reverse.RAYA
| G AG A
G AM D A | BH E R U N D A
in N a ga r i ;
b e lo w t h e le ge n d is a scep t r e t u r n ed t o t h e r igh t .
12. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 14.

Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r i g h t ; a b ove, t h e su n a n d m oon , a n d N a ga r i
s ylla b le D E .
Reverse.RAYAGA
| J A G A M D A B H E | R U M D A in N a g a r i ; a b o ve
t h e legen d is a sim ila r scep t r e.
13. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 15.

Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r igh t .
Reverse.As
N o. 12.
14. Co p p e r .

zyxw

E llio t , N o . 94.

Obverse.Elephant
fa cin g r igh t (r a r ely left) wit h Ka n a r e s e
N I a b ove.
Reverse.MAN
A ( ? ) D A N A YA | I CAR U in Ka n a r e s e .

s ylla b le

" This coin is connected by type with Nos. 7 to 13. ' Danayakaru'
is honorific Kanarese plural of danayaka, probably a corruption of
1 dandanayaka,' the title of the Hoysala chiefs of Tonnur, near
Seringapatam."
15. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 16.

Obverse.Bull fa cin g t h e le ft ; a b ove, t h e su n a n d m oon .

Reverse S R I D E V A | R A Y A in N a g a r i ; a b o ve t h e le ge n d is a
scep t r e wit h t op t u r n ed t o t h e r igh t .
16. Co p p e r .
H u lt zs ch , N o . 17.
N o . 2 1.
Obverse.As
Reverse.As
17. Cop p er .

Essay s,

vol. i,

P la t e

xxxv,

N o . 15.
N o . 9.

H u lt zs ch , N o. 18 .

Obverse.As
Reverse.As
scep t r e.
18. Cop p er .

Prinsep's

N o . 16.
N o . 9, b u t co n ch

on

t h e left a n d d iscu s on

r igh t o f

H u lt zs ch , N o . 19.

Obverse.Bull fa cin g r i g h t ; m oon a b ove an d con ch in fron t.

Reverse.PRATAPA
D E | V A R A Y A in N a g a r i ; a b ove t h e legen d
a scep t r e t u r n ed t o t h e r igh t .

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvut
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

19. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 20 .
Obverse.As N o , 18.
Reverse.SRI
D E V A | R A Y A in N a g a r i ; a b o ve t h e legen d a sim ila r
scep t r e.

20. Cop p er .
H u lt zs ch , N o . 21 ; Prinsep's Essay s, vol. i, P la t e
N o . 20 .
Obverse.Bull fa cin g t h e r i g h t ; su n a n d m oon a b ove.
Reverse.As
N o . 9.

xxxv,

2 1. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o. 22.
Obverse.As N o. 20 .
Reverse.As
N o . 9, b u t con ch on t h e left a n d d iscu s on t h e r igh t of t h e
scep t r e.
22. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 23.
Obverse.Bull fa cin g r igh t wit h su n a n d m o o n a b o v e ; in fr on t of b u ll
N a ga r i s ylla b le D E .
Reverse.SRI
| N I L A K A M | T H A in N a ga r i = N i la k a n t a " t h e b lu e
n ecked ," a n a m e of Siva .

Mallikarjunaray a,

A.D.

Devaraya
r . Co p p e r . Ind. Ant.,
Obverse.Elephant
Reverse.MALI
2. Co p p e r . Ind. Ant.,
Obverse.As N o .
Reverse.As N o .

zyxwvut
1451-56.

Bhiipati,

and

successor

of

N ov., 18 92, N o . 2.
facin g le ft ; a b o ve it t h e Ka n a r e s e s ylla b le N I .
| K A J U N A R A | Y A R U in Ka n a r e s e .
N o v., 18 92, N o. 3.
1, b u t e le p h a n t fa cin g r igh t .
1.

1465-79.
grandson of Harihara II.
Vira

Son

A.D.

The son of Bukka II. and a

Co p p e r .

Ind. Ant., D e c., 18 96, N o . 6. Se e N o . 2 of H a r ih a r a I I ., wh ich

h a s t h e s a m e ob ver se.
Obverse.Hanum an
a d va n cin g r igh t .
Reverse.SRI
V I R A | B H U P A T I | R A Y A in N a ga r i.

2nd Dy nasty , Krishnaray a,

A.D.

1508-42

1. Go ld , d ou b le p a g o d a . W e i g h t 119 7 gr s. H u lt zs ch , N o . 2 4 ;
N o . 112 .
Obverse.Vishnu
s t a n d in g u n d er a n a r ch .
Reverse.SRI
| K R I S H N A R A | Y A in N a ga r i.

E llio t ,

of

the

Soztth

Indian

Dynasties.

yx
zy
zy
353

"Th e omission of the surname Pratapa, which appears on the

two smaller gold coins (Nos. 3 and 4 of this king), makes the
attribution of this coin doubtful."1 The same obverse occurs on
the coins of the 3rd dynasty.

zyxwvu

2. Gold p a god a . H u lt zsch , No. 25.

Obverse.Siva an d Par vat i seated .
Reverse.SRI
P R A | T A P A - K R I S H N A | R A YA in Nagar i.

" This unique coin is doubtful and may have been an earlier
issue of the pagoda of Krishnaraya of Maisur."1
3. Gold p a god a . H u lt zsch , No. 2 6 ; Bid ie, No. 12a and 12b; Elliot , Nos.
18 6 - 8 ; Mar sd en , Nos. 10 70 -1.
Obverse.Vishnu seated with t h e discus an d con ch .
Reverse.As No. 2.

" This coin has long been popularly known as the ' Durgi
pagoda,' the figure on the obverse being regarded as Durga the
bull-headed consort of Siva. From the examination of a number of
specimens, however, it is apparent that the symbols that accompany
the figure on the obverse are not Sivaite, but the 'chank' or 'chakra'
of Vishnu, and that thefigure itself represents the ' Varaha' or 1 Boar'
incarnation. In fact it is from the figure of the boar on this and the
Chalukyan coins already described, that the pagoda got the Tamil
name of Varaha. The inscription on the reverse shows that this form
was first struck by a Vijayanagara king, but there is strong reason
for believing that it was subsequently reproduced by tributaries of
that house, and notably by the Chitaldroog Nayak about the end of
the seventeenth century. It is also probable that the term Durgi, as
applied to this pagoda, had originally no reference to thefigure on the
obverse, but was simply a popular modification of the word ' Durga,' a
'hill-fort,' and the diminutive title of Chitaldroog, the place at which
the more modern specimens were struck. . . .
It will be observed
that he (i.e., Krishnaraya) or some predecessor changed the state
religion, the figures of Siva and Parvati on the coinage having given
place to that of Vishnu."2
1

Dr . H u lt zsch .

VO L.

I X.

Dr . Bid ie, Pagoda or Varaha Coins, J.A.S.B.,

18 8 3, p . 44.
2 A

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvuts
zyxwvu
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

4. Go ld h a lf- p a g o d a . W e i g h t 26 gr s.
E llio t , N o . 175.
Obverse a n d reverse a s N o . 3.

and

Coins

H u lt zs ch , N o . 2 7 ;

Moor ,

18 - 2 1;

" On some specimens of Nos. 3 and 4 the sitting figure looks like
a female and might be intended for Lakshmi."1
5. Go ld q u a r t e r - p a go d a . Ma r s d en , p. j 3 7 .
Obverse an d reverse as N o . 3.
6. Co p p e r .

H u lt zs ch , N o . 28 .

Obverse.Kneeling figure
Reverse.As
N o . 3.

Acky utaray a,
1. Go ld p a go d a .

A.D. I

of Ga r u d a fa cin g left.

508-42

H u lt zs ch , N o . 29.

Obverse.A d ou b le- h ea d ed e a gle ( Ga n d a b h e r u n d a ) h o ld in g e le p h a n t s

in it s b e a k s a n d cla ws.

Reverse.SRI-PRA
| T A P A C H Y U T A | R A Y A in N a ga r i.
2. Go ld h a lf- p a go d a . W e igh t 26-4 gr s.
H u lt zs ch , N o . 3 0 ;
E llio t , N o . 9 9 ; C.I.M., vol. i, P la t e x x x , 29.
Obverse a n d reverse.As N o . 1.

Bid ie,

10 a ;

3. Go ld h a lf- p a go d a . W e i gh t 24-2 gr s. H u lt zs ch , N o . 3 1; E llio t , 98 .

Obverse.A Ga n d a b h e r u n d a wa lk in g t o left.
Reverse.-As N o. 1.

Sadisivaray a,

A.D.

1542-74 (virtually controlled by his minister

Rama Raja)
1. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52-6 gr s.
Obverse.Vishnu
Reverse.SRI-PR
2. Go ld

H u lt zs ch , N o . 32 ; E llio t , N o . 10 0 .

a n d La k s h m i s ea t ed .
A T A | P A- S AD AS I

p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52-9 gr s.
E llio t , N o . 114 .

| V A R YA

in N a ga r i.

H u lt zs ch , N o . 32 [ a ] ;

Bid ie, N o . 13 ;

Obverse Siva wit h t h e t r isu l in h is r igh t h a n d a n d t h e a n t e lo p e in h is

le ft ; P a r va t i on Siva 's left.
Reverse.SRI
| S AD AS I | VA.

" The obverse of this coin is the exact prototype of the ' Ikkeri'
and ' Bahaduri' pagodas, and at one time I had doubts as to whether
the Sadasiva, whose name is on the reverse, was not the Nayak of that
name who founded the Ikkeri-house in the Shimoga district of Mysore,
1

Dr. H ultzsch.

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
35

zyxwvutsrq

and established a mint there which was afterwards captured and

worked by Hyder."1
3. Co p p e r .

Ind. Ant., N ov., 18 92, N o. 4.

As E lliot 's go ld p a go d a N o . 10 0 .

Obverse.God a n d go d d e s s sea t ed .
Reverse.[SRI-SADA]SIVARA
| YA R U
4. Co p p e r .

in N a ga r i.

Ind. Ant., N o v., 18 92, N o . 5.

Obverse.A
Reverse.As

k n e e lin g figu r e of Ga r u d a fa cin g left.

N o . 3.

The obverse corresponds to No. 6 of Krishnaraya.

^ rd Dy nasty or Usurping Line.

Ram a Raja, died

1. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 52*6 gr s.

1565

" T h e Ga n d ik o t a p a go d a ."

Obverse.Vishnu
s t a n d in g u n d er a c a n o p y; fou r -ar m ed a n d h o ld in g
t h e u su a l s ym b o ls .
Reverse.SRI
R AM | R AJ A
R AM | R AM R AJ A
in
cor r u p t
N a ga r i.
2. Go ld h a lf- p a go d a . W e i gh t 26 gr s.
N o . 16.
Obverse a n d reverse.As

Tirum alaray a,
1. Go ld p a go d a .

A.D.

N o . 1.

C.I.M.,

vol. i, P la t e x x x , 3 1; Bid ie,

Th i s coin h a s b een often for ged .

1565-71. The brother of Rama Raja

H u lt zs ch , N o . 33 ; E llio t , N o . 18 2.

Obverse.Laksham ana
s t a n d in g, R a m a a n d Sit a sea t ed .
Reverse.SRI-TI
] R V M A L A R A | Y U L U in N a ga r i. " ' R a y u l u ' is
t h e T e l u g u h on or ific p lu r a l o f ' r a ya .' " 2
2. Go ld h a lf- p a go d a . W e igh t 25-8 gr s.
Obverse a n d reverse.As

H u lt zs ch , N o . 34 ; Bid ie, N o. 14.

N o . 1.

3. Cop p er . Ind. Ant., Nov., 18 92, N o . 6 ; Madras

P la t e I, N o . 11.
Obverse.A

b o a r fa cin g r i g h t ; a b ove, a swor d a n d t h e su n .

Reverse.[SRI-TI]

Jr., N e w Ser ies, vol. iv,

Dr. Bidie, p. 45.

R U M A L A | . R A Y A in Ka n a r e s e .

Dr. Hultzsch, Ind. Ant., xx (18 91).

2 A 2

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Venkata,

A.D.

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

15 8 7

1. Go ld p a g o d a . W e i g h t 51'2 gr s. T h e " Ve n k a t a p a t i p a go d a ."

N o . 35 ; Bid ie , N o . 15 ; E llio t , N o . 10 5.

H u lt zs ch ,

zyxw

Obverse.Vishnu
s t a n d in g u n d er a n a r c h ; fou r -ar m ed a n d h o ld in g t h e
u su a l s ym b o ls .
Reverse.SRI - V E M K A | T E S V A R A | Y A N A M A H
" Ad o r a t i o n t o t h e b lessed Ve n k a t e s va r a . "

in

N a ga r i =

" Venkatesvara is the deity of Venkatadri or Tirumalai, the sacred

hill of Tirupati in the North Arcot district. As Chandragiri, the last
capital of the 3rd Vijayanagara dynasty, is situated near Tirupati, it is
very probable that the coin belongs to one of these princes, or even
specially to one of the Venkatas among them, who might have selected
the legend, because it reminded him of his own name."1
" It seems likely, therefore, that the 'Venkatapati pagoda'was
first coined at Chandragiri by the ex-raja of Vijayanagara, and latterly at
Raidrug. One of the last Polygars of that place was named Venkatapati, and as the family were descended of a former commander-in-chief
of Vijayanagar and were long vassals of that house, they would
naturally, on setting up a mint, copy the coinage of the dynasty with
which they had been so intimately connected."3
2. Go ld h a lf- p a go d a . A la t er . im it a t ion of N o . 1, t h e le ge n d h a vin g
d e ge n e r a t e d in t o a scr a wl. I t u sed t o b e m a n u fa ct u r ed for u se a s
je we lle r y in Ba n ga lo r e .
3. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 36.
Obverse.Vishnu
s t a n d in g u n d er a n a r ch .
Reverse.[VE]
M K A - | T A P A | R A Y A in N a ga r i.
4. Co p p e r . H u lt zs ch , N o . 37 ; E llio t , N o . 177.
Obverse.Vishnu
s t a n d i n g ; on h is r igh t a fish.
Reverse.VEMKA
| T A P A in Ka n a r e s e .

" Venkatappa was the name of tlie sixth Nayaka of Ikkeri. As,
however, this coin is frequently met with in the Madura bazar, and as
thefish is the emblem of the Pandya country, I believe that it belongs
to one of the Madura Nayakas, who issued it in the name of his nominal
sovereign Venkata, the pageant king of Vijayanagara."1 Some of these
1

Dr . H ultzsch, Ind. Ant., xx (18 91).

Bidie, p. 46.

of

the

Soth

Indian

yxv
zy
zyxwv
Dynasties.

35

pagodas are oval; and on the obverse of some specimens Vishnu stands
under an arch or canopy, in others the arch is wanting.
5. Cop p er . H u lt zsch , No. 39 ; Elliot , No. 89^ .
Obverse.A kn eelin g figure of Gar u d a facin g left.
Reverse.VEMKATA
in Kan ar ese.

MAISUR.
After the destruction of the Vijayanagara empire in A.D. 1565 the
Muhammadans did not advance to the south, and the result was that
the numerous Polygars and other petty chiefs, being relieved of the
yoke of empire, at once began to fight amongst themselves for
supremacy. These subordinate states commenced to coin money and
flooded the country with an endless variety of gold and copper coins ;
hence the numerous specimens found in Southern India. Their coins
became " more and more degraded, till all resemblance to the type from
which they professed to be derived was lost." Maisur was the only
state of importance which established itself permanently after the
collapse of the Vijayanagara empire. That district had been governed
by a viceroy located at Seringapatam, who levied tribute from thirtythree Wodeyars or " lords" for the King of Vijayanagara. Raja
Wodeyar, chief of Maisur, assumed possession of the whole province on
the death of the Viceroy, and declared his independence in 1578.
The Rajas of Maisur appear to have inherited the cognizance of
the elephant from the Kongus and Cheras. Coins bearing this device
are found in great variety in the province. The elephant, which in
Southern India has always been considered as an emblem of royalty, is
still found in his wild state in the forests of Coorg and Maisur, and is
looked upon as an " animal of prudence and foresight, and a remover of
difficulties." Even Tipu the usurper continued the use of the elephant
on his copper coins, although the emblem of his empire was the tiger.
His standards bore on them a central sun, consisting of alternate stripes
of green and gold in a circle, surrounded by gold rays and stripes, known
as " tiger stripes."
The coins of Maisur have been described in vol. v of this Journal}
1

" Coin Collecting in Mysore," by Major R. P. J ackson, British Num ism atic Journal,
vol. v, pp. 287-340.

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyx
zyxwvut
The

CO I N AG E

Dominions,

OF T H E

P O LYG AR S

Eblems,

AN D OTH E R

and

MINOR

Coins

CH I E F S .

in Maisur, was in the jaghir of Sira in A.D. 17 2 8 ;

captured by Haidar of Maisur in 1761, by the Mahrattas in 1770, and
retaken by Haidar in 1773.
Gold fanams struck by Abbas Kuli Khan ( 17 2 8 - 6 1) , Haidar
( 17 6 1- 7 0 ) ? , in the name of Muhammad Shah of Delhi ( 17 18 - 4 8 ) ,
and of Alamgir II. ( 17 5 3 - 6 1) .
Copper coins in the name of
Muhammad Shah of Delhi.
Little Balapur, in Maisur, became nominally subject to Maisur
about 17 0 4 ; in possession of the former Polygar of Deonhully 17 4 9 - 6 2 ;
captured by Haidar in 1761 and by Lord Cornwallis in 1791,
who restored it to the Polygar.; afterwards captured by the Maisur
troops.
1. Balapur,

Gold

fan am

wit h

( Mu h a m m a d )

r ever se.
Se e t h e Num ism atic
t h e coin a ge of b ot h p la ces.

on

ob ver se ? a n d

(Ba la )

on

Chronicle, Ser ies I V, vol. 10 , 19 10 , for

The ex-raja of Vijayanagara resided

at Chandragiri after the destruction of his empire in 1565, The
Polygar of Raidrug was descended from a former commander-inchief of Vijayanagara.
The Venkatapati pagoda, described under " Vijaya.nagara," was
struck at both these places.
3 . Chituldritg, in Maisur.About twelve Nayakas ruled here from
15 0 8 - 17 7 9 .
Madakeri I.first assumed independence and died in 16 0 2 .
It became tributary to the Nawabs of Sira in 1721 ; was captured by
Haidar in 1779, when the inhabitants were carried off to Seringapatam.
2. Chandragiri

and Raidrug.

1. D u r gi p a go d a a n d h alf-p agod a, said t o h a ve b een st r u ck b y Ku m a r a Ba r m a p p a N a ya k a ( 16 8 9 - 172 1) in 1691 ; d escr ib ed u n d er " Vi j a ya n a g a r a . "

2. M o la y Du r gi p a go d a an d h alf-p agod a, said to h a ve been st r u ck b y M a d a ker i V. ( 1754 - 79 ) . As N o. 1, bu t of ver y r u d e wor km a n sh ip with m er ely
t h e p u n ch -m a r k on t h e reverse.
3. Gu llu k u n t a y p a go d a a n d h a lf-p a god a , s a id t o h a ve b een forged b y a
gold s m it h in Gu llu ku n t a y, n ear Ch it u ld r u g, in t h e r eign of Ma d a ker i
I V. ( 172 1- 4 8 ) in 172 7. 1
1

H a wke s , Coins of My sore, 18 52 .

of

the

Soth

yxv
z
zyxwvu

Indian

Dynasties.

35

zyxwvutsrq

4 . Co p p e r D u r gi ca sh , H a w k e s , N o . 7.
Obverse.Durga.
Reverse.Crossed

lin es.

4 . Colar, in Maisur, formed part of the province of Sira in 16 6 4 ;

it was presented to the father of Haidar of Maisur in 1721 ; captured
by the British in 1768, and by the Mahrattas in 1770.
Go ld fan am in t h e n a m e of M u h a m m a d Sh a h of Delh i.
Obverse.A^ ^ O

M u h a m m a d Sh a h .

Reverse. J jj <
J j
-J

" s t r u c k at Cola r ."

formed part of the dominions of the

celebrated Kempe Gondas, who settled in Yellahunka in 1550 and afterwards held Bangalore. Madgiri was captured by the Maisur general
in 1728, when both territories were annexed by the Maisur rajahs.
5. Cunghul

and

Madgiri

Go ld fan am st r u ck b y M u m m a d i Ke m p e Ga n d a , t h e la st chief, a t Cu n gh u l.

6. Cudikonda
in Bellary district.
fanams as follows :

The Polygars struck gold

1. T h e Su b r a m a n ya (t h e son of Siva t o wh om t h e ser p en t wa s sa cr ed ) or

sn a ke. J.A.S.B.,
18 8 6.
Obverse.SRI
in N a ga r i.
Reverse.A cr a wlin g, cob r a in s ix va r iet ies.
2. T h e P u d igi s u b r a m a n ya .
Obverse.As N o . 1.
Reverse.Hood
of cob r a d ist en d ed .
3. T h e M u r u ya d a .
Obverse.As N o . 1.
Reverse.A t h r ee-h ea d ed cob r a .
4. Obverse.As
Reverse.A
7.

N o . 1.
five-h ea d ed co b r a (r a r e).

Culiandrug,

in Maisur ; the Polygar is said by Hawkes to have

struck a gold fanam.

Obverse.The

Siva it e b u ll.

Reverse.SHAHOO

in N a ga r i ( P o lyga r ' s n a m e ?).

8. Deonhully
between Bangalore and Nundidrug in Maisur.
Hawkes mentions a gold fanam of this polygarship.
9 . Gandikata,
a hill fortress in the Kadapah district; held by the
Polygars as vassals of Vijayanagara, till captured by Muhammad Kuli
of Gulkanda early in the seventeenth century ; captured by the British
in 1791.
'

zyxwvutsrq
zy

zyxwv
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

E7nblems,

and

Coins

The pagoda and half-pagoda of Timmia Naidoo, the Polygar, are

probably later copies of those described under Rama Raja of Vijayanagara. The inscriptions on these coins, which were in circulation in the
ceded districts as late as 1839, are in debased Nagari. They were
probably struck late in the sixteenth century.
10 . Gooty , in Bellary district; held by the Shahnair family until
dispossessed in 1758 by the Mahratta chief Murari Rao ; captured by
Haidar of Maisur in 1791.
1. Gold fan am str u ck in t h e n a m e of M u h a m m a d Sh a h of Delh i.
2. F a n a m of Mu r a r i Ra o.
11.

Gurram kunda.According

to Hawkes gold pagodas and

fanams of these types :

1. Ma n on h or seb a ck.
2. F igu r e of Ve n ke t r o wn a ?

No. 2 was probably a corrupted form of the Durgi pagoda with

debased Nagari reverses.
12 . Ikkeri
and Bednur.The
Nayakas of these places reigned
from 1559 to 1640 at Ikkeri, and from 1640 to 1763 at Bednur. The
latter was captured by Haidar in 1763, when he obtained booty to the
amount of twelve millions sterling. He changed the name to Haidarnagar, abbreviated into Nagar. It became the second city of his
empire. He first struck coins here in his own name, adopting the
obverse of the Ikkeri pagoda, but substituting his own initial on the
reverse for the Nagari inscription. Gold coins of the Nayakas consist
of
1. T h e I kker i p a go d a of Sa d a siva N a ya k a (1559 -75), d escr ib ed u n d er
Sa d is iva r a ya of Vija ya n a ga r a as t h er e is som e d ou b t a s t o wh ich ot
t h ese t wo p r in ces str u ck th is coin .
2. H a wk e s n ot es a " Sr iva r i" p a god a an d fan am wit h Siva a n d P a r va t i on
t h e obver se.

a hill fortress in Maisur.The Nundi fanam

13 . Nundidrug,
(Hawkes and J.R.A.S.,
18 8 6 ) .
14 . Ooscotta, once a division of the province of Sira.
Gold fan am in t h e n a m e of M u h a m m a d Sh a h of Delh i.

. AN AN T AN KASU OF T R AVAN CO R E .

xvut

P LA T E I I .

zy
yxv
zyxwvut

zyxwvut
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

15. Sira, 33 miles -N.N.W. ofTumkur in Maisur, which is now a

small place, but in 1664 it was the capital of a province, and even
Maisur was tributary to it so late as 1724, was captured by Balajee Rao
in 1757 and by Haidar in 1761. It surrendered subsequently to the
Mahrattas and was held by them until 1773, when Tipu conquered it.
T h e Sh ir id a or Sir p h e e fan am ( H a wk e s ) .

Obverse.Vishnu.
Reverse.Illegible

ch a r a ct er s.

16. Paducottah, between Tanjore and Madura, is governed by a

chief called Tondiman, whose ancestor received his territory for services
during the Karnatik wars of the eighteenth century. The following
copper coins, first issued by the Tondiman, 1729-67, have been
coined locally ever since. They are circulated during the Dusserah
festival, when four of them are distributed, together with a dole of rice,
to every poor person on each day of that festival. Their value is
-2-0-th of an anna, and their weight 20 grains :
1. Obverse.The figure of Br a h a d a m b a , n a m e ly, t h e fa m ily d e it y of t h e
To n d im a n .
Reverse. Ss o s s = Vi j a y a = Vict o r y. Tu fn ell's Hints, N o . 23 an d
p. 20, P la t e I.
2. As N o . 1, b u t a m or e m od er n a n d im p r o ve d s p ecim en , P la t e I.

It seems that the sitting posture was adopted on this coin to distinguish it from a similar coin in circulation in Madura, which had a
standing posture. Tufnell, No. 24.
17. Copper coins struck in the Maisur province in the name
of Alamgir II. of Delhi (1754-59)The following five specimens are illustrated on P LATE II,
Figs. 1-5 :1
1. Obverse.Elephant

ca p a r is on ed s t a n d in g t o left.

Reverse."Alam gir

ye a r

2. Obverse.As

. " W e i g h t 4 0 gr s.

N o . 1.

R e v e r s e . " A l a m g i r

st r u ck

ye a r

40 gr s.
3. A va r ia n t of N o . 2 . W e i g h t 4 0 gr s.
1 In the plate the name " Deh li " is an error for Delhi.

. " W e i g h t

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsr
The

Dominions,

4. Obverse.As
Reverse.As

Eblems,

and

Coins

N o . 1, b u t e le p h a n t t o r igh t .
N o . 1. W e i g h t 25 gr s.

5. Obverse.^ jjU
Reverse.at&ob

" Al a m g i r . "
" E m p e r o r . " W e i g h t

20-grs.

Muhammadan interests began to come to the front in Maisur

in the reign of Chikka Raja, 1734-66.
P LATE II, Figs, x to 12, are copper coins found in Maisur, some
of which are the issues of the Polygars in that province after the
downfall of the Vijayanagara empire.
T H E MALDI VE

ISLANDS.

These islands form a chain of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean

extending 550 miles in length, and are inhabited by Muhammadans.
The number of the islands is popularly estimated at .12,000, as appears
by the ancient style of the sultan as " King of 12,000 islands and atolls."
The sultan on his coinage, however, calls himself " Lord of land and
sea." To prevent the frequent raids of the Moplah pirates of Malabar,
the sultan placed himself under the protection of the government of
Ceylon in 1645. The sultan was carried off by a force of 'Ali Raja of
Kannanur in 1753, and as he never returned,, the minister who had
ruled in his absence became sultan in 1760.
;
The currency of these islands originally consisted of the larin or
"fish-hook" money, made of bent silver wire1; but this currency has been
long replaced by coins of base metal bearing the same name. The Indian
rupee is now current for larger payments, and cowries are still used to
some extent. The following copper coins, illustrated on P LATE I, Figs.,
1-2, weight 20 grains, were issued by Sultan Muhammad Muhayyiud-din (1835-82), and were obtained in Kannanur, between which
place and the islands there; is frequent intercourse :
1. Obverse.
d in ."

j^ lkLj " S u l t a n M u h a m m a d

Reverse.-iTAC I L ^ S l J i l l
A.H. 128 5 " (A.D. 18 68 ). ""

^ I LLJ

"Th e

lor d

M u h a yyiu - d -

xnX

of la n d

a n d sea

2. A s N o. I, b u t d a t e A.H. 1296 (A.D. 18 78 ) a n d va r ia t ion s in t h e p osit ion

of t h e Ar a b i c le ge n d .
- .
T

Larin s were manufactured there in 160 2.

of

TH E

the

Soth

yxv
zy
zyxw

Dynasties.

zyxwvu

R AM T I N KI S

Literature: J. Gibbs, Jr.

As.

Ntim .

OF S O U T H E R N

Soc.

Bengal,

Sir W. Elliot,

Indian

Orient.,

Bengal,

p. 207,

I N D I A.

p. 76, 1883 ;

3 3

Jr.

As.

Soc.

1884.

" Coins of Southern India, p. 99.

Gold medals known as Ramtinkis (or Rama-tankas) are occasionally found in Southern India, and occur in three varieties, viz. (1) the
whole, or " Ramtinki Varaha," measuring about 2 inches in diameter
and weighing 4 tolas or 720 grains ; (2) the half, or "Ramtinki Pratapa,"
measuring about 1J inches in diameter and weighing 2 tolas or
360 grains; and (3) the quarter, or " Ramtinki Dharana," measuring
i-g- inches in diameter and weighing 180 grains. The obverse of these
medals is concave, due to the force of blows upon the gold plate held
over the cup-shaped dies.
"Th e story on them all, illustrated to a greater or less degree, is
that of Rama and Sita, on their reconciliation on her proving her
innocence after being seized and carried to Lanka by Ravana, and
is taken from the Ramayana. The rows of figures are composed of
men and monkeys, the latter forming part of the army of Hanuman,
by whose means Sita was rescued. In all the large specimens,
Hanuman is represented standing or kneeling in the centre of the
row below Rama and Sita, and holding up a flower to them ; in
the smaller, he alone sits just below Rama and his consort. Sita
in some is represented on Rama's lap, in the umbrella. The monkey
in the same row with Rama and Sita is Sugriva, the king of that
tribe to whom Hanuman was adviser. In some the figure of a
bear appears, which is intended to represent Jambavat, the king
of the bears, who with his army also aided Rama in his attack on
Lanka."1
1

Jr. As. Soc. Bengal, 18 8 4, p. 2 11.

34

zyxwvuts
zy

zyxwvu
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

As these cup-shaped medals bear neither date nor legible inscription the date of issue is unknown, but the natives assert that they are
about 800 years old. Elliot assigns them to the reign of Tirumala
of Vijayanagara, A.D. 1565-71, and thinks that their form may have
been taken from the concave padma-tankas. Those medals of the
paler gold are said to be of a more ancient date than the others.
There is no evidence to show that they were ever used as coins
despite the correct proportion of their weights.
They were apparently struck for votive offerings or for purely
religious purposes. They are highly venerated in Southern India,
especially by Vaishnava Brahmans, but most families of respectability
there have one or more, which are objects of household worship at the
present day. The majority of Siva temples in Southern India have
several Ramtinkis in their treasure house, which are made use of in the
daily worship. It is customary among the followers of Siva when worshipping the idols in the temples " to bathe them daily in milk, curds,
ghi [i.e., clarified butter), sugar, honey, fruits, and then in water, after
which they were bathed in gold, which is done by pouring over them
handfuls of gold coins such as Ramtinkis, Huns, and other Hindu
coins ; these coins are kept specially for this use and are deemed to be
sacred, and although as a favour they may be shown to Europeans,
none can touch them but the priests."1 The battered appearance of
some of these Ramtinkis is the result of their having been poured over
the heads of the idols for a large number of years. It requires a good
deal of tact and patience on the part of the collector to persuade a
Hindu to sell a Ramtinki. I was able to procure two quarter-Ramtinkis
in the Mysore Province in 1892 at a cost of thirty rupees each. It
is necessary, however, to exercise caution as the native goldsmiths
have been known to make excellent imitations in Bangalore and
Mysore, but it is quite probable that some of the modern imitations
were struck at or for some of the famous places of pilgrimage in
Southern India. As a rule, however, the modern imitations are of very
inferior workmanship with no pretensions to age, but being of good

zyxwvuts
1

J.A.S.B.,

18 8 4, p . 2 11.

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
35

metal, would be readily accepted by the priests for the purposes

mentioned above.
In connection with the daily gold-coin-bath of the Hindu idols, I
venture to quote an extract from a letter relating how a brass casting
of the old East India Company, which once probably ornamented some
regimental big drum of former days, was the object of daily worship in
the temple amongst the Hindu idols :" I am sending you the armorial
bearings of the old East India Company which I found in a temple
dedicated to Bharata, where, along with several Hindu idols, it was
worshipped, the men told me, for ever so many years as a Hindu
deity. It used to be bathed and anointed with sandal wood every day
with the rest of the Murats with all the customary formulse of the daily
Hindu ritual. The old Mahunt was quite pleased with his possession
and refused at first to allow me to touch it, but I was able to convince
him that the so-called deity was the escutcheon of the ' Sirkar
Company.' He then gave it to me. It is an interesting relic of the
exotic phase of Hindu worship. I think, therefore it is worthy of
translation from the niche of Bharata's temple to a Museum."1

zyxwvut
TH E

M U H AM M AD AN

CO I N AG E

OF S O U T H E R N

I N D I A.

The first attempt to extend the influence of the Empire of Delhi

over Southern India was made in the reign of Jalalu-d-din Firoz II.,
A.D. 1290-95, when the command of the venture was entrusted to
the Sultan's nephew 'Alau-d-din, who afterwards ascended the throne
with the title of Muhammad Shah, A.D. 1295-1315. In A.D. 1293-4
he took the city of Deogir, afterwards called Daulatabad, where he
obtained immense plunder. After his accession to the throne he
placed Malik Naib Kafur, a Hindu renegade, in command of the
Dakhan army, who penetrated to the extreme south of the peninsula,
stripping every Hindu temple of its accumulation of gold and jewels.
This general overthrew the kingdoms of Carnata and Telingana, and
in A.D. 1311 carried away an enormous amount of plunder from
1

J.A.S.B.,

18 8 3, p. 79 .

zyxwvuts
zy
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

zyxwvu

Madura; the gold alone is said to have amounted to 96,000

"maunds" (nearly three millions sterling), and this was the loot of
only one of his four expeditions. Malik Naib Kafur's name is
remembered in Madura to this day in association with irresistible
fate and every form of sacrilege. During the reign of Ghiyasu-d-din
Tughlaq, A.D. 1320-24, Dakhan affairs were managed by his son
Muhammad-ibn-Tughlaq, who afterwards became Sultan of Delhi,
A.D. 1324-51. The partiality of the last-mentioned sultan for the
Dakhan was shown by his transfer of the seat of his government from
Delhi to Deogir in 1338, and by his compelling the people of Delhi
to proceed to that place, a distance of 700 miles. The brutal violence
with which this order was carried out has been related by a native
historian. When permitted to return, the majority of the people
perished on the route. The tyrant made a second attempt to establish
his capital in Deogir, but wasfinally baffled.
The imperial sway over the south of India was, however, of brief
duration. In 1334 Jalalu-d-din Ahsan Shah, the sultan's governor of
Ma'bar, declared his independence, and'established a line of Mussulman
rulers at Madura, the capital of the Pandya kingdom, which lasted
until 1377, when it was overthrown by the rising Hindu state of
Vijayanagara.
The sultan's tyrannical actions also resulted in Ismail becoming
king of the Dakhan, in 1347, with the title of Nasiru-d-din. The
Delhi army was defeated by Zuffur Khan, and the royal troops were
expelled from the Dakhan. On the resignation of Nasiru-d-din Ismail,
Zuffur Khan became king under .the title of 'Alau-d-din Hasan Shah
Gangu Bahman, the founder of the Bahmani dynasty, which lasted to
nearly 1525. On the withdrawal of the power of Delhi from the south
of the Narbada, some of the Hindu kingdoms reverted to their former
masters. On the dissolution of the Bahmani empire its dominions
were distributed into the five Muhammadan states of Gulkanda,
Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar. In 1565 these states formed
a league against the remaining Hindu prince of Vijayanagara and
destroyed that monarchy. In 1630 the greater portion of the Dakhan
had been absorbed by the kingdoms of Gulkanda, Ahmadnagar, and

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

Bijapur. All these states were reduced in the reign of Aurangzeb, and
the Dakhan was again incorporated into the empire of Delhi. In the
subsequent reigns, when the great empire of Aurangzeb fell into decay,
the Nizam declared his independence, and the Mahrattas established
a powerful monarchy. The remaining portions of Southern India
were held by chieftains acknowledging the supremacy of one or other
of these two powers. Maisur became the prize of the Muhammadan
usurper Haidar Ali. During the contest for power which ensued
about the middle of the eighteenth century between the native chiefs,
the French and English took opposite sides. The British triumphed
and Maisur formed one of our earliest conquests in the Dakhan.
The Muhammadan coins struck in Southern India consist of those
issued by the following dynasties :
I.Pathan

zyxw
zyxw

Sultans

of

Delhi.

a. 'Alau-d-din Muhammad Shah II., A.H. 695-715 = A.D. 1295I3I5-

This sultan struck gold coins in A.H. 714 and 715, and silver
coins in A.H. 714 at the "For t of Deogir," which are the
earliest specimens of the Muhammadan coinage bearing the
name of a mint town in Southern India. On these coins
he calls himself " the second Alexander," being probably
elated with his successes in the Dakhan. His copper coins
are still found in large numbers in the vicinity of Deogir
(Daulatabad), and were probably struck there, but they do
not bear the name of that mint.
b. Ghiyasu-d-din Tughlaq I., A.H. 720-725 = A.D. 1320-1325.
This sultan struck silver coins at the Fort of Deogir in A.H. 721,
722 and 726 ?
c. Muhammad III. ibn Tughlaq, A.H. 725-752 = A.D. 1324-1351.
This sultan struck gold coins in A.H. 726 at " Daulatabad town "
in memory of his father, and in A.H. 727 and 728 at "the
metropolis (lit. arch) of the tribes of Islam, the seat of the
Presence, Deogir." At his tanksal or mint, which was close

zyxwvutsrqp
zy
The

Dominions,

zyxw

Eblems,

and

Coins

to the ancient reservoir of the city, situated about two miles

south-west of Rozah, he struck the greater portion of his
well-known forced currency in A.H.'730-732, consisting of
tankahs, nisfes, lawful dirhams, and tankahs of fifty kanis
composed of brass. The mint town of Daulatabad is
described on these coins either as the " seat of royalty " or
as " at the seat of the Presence." Finding his fictitious
currency a failure, he reverted to the old currency and
redeemed the brass tokens in A.H. 732 (A.D. 1331). Specimens
of his forced currency at the present time are often turned
up by the plough in the vicinity of Daulatabad. In A.H. 744
he struck nisfes in billon at Daulatabad, which bore the name
of A1 Mustakfi b'illah, the third Abbasid Khalifa of Egypt,
instead of his own, thinking perhaps that his sovereignty
needed external confirmation.

zy

It may be noted that all the Dakhan coins of the Pathan Sultans
of Delhi were struck at the same place, viz., Deogir (or Daulatabad).
II.

The Sultans

of Madura,

com m only

called the Kings

of

Mdbar.

Although Madura had been captured in A.D. 1311 by the troops

of 'Alau-d-din Muhammad Shah II. of Delhi, a special coinage for the
Province of Ma'bar, which consisted not only of the Pandya country,
but of the whole of the Coromandel coast, Nellore, Kulbarga, and the
Malabar coast from Cape Comorin to Quilon, was not fabricated until
the reign of Muhammad ibn Tughlaq. The coins of this sovereign are
of southern manufacture and are not found in the bazars of Northern
India,
a. Im p u r e silver ; co p p e r ; d ates A.H. 730 , 733 an d 734.
" H e wh o puts h is tr ust in th e h elp

Obverse.'vf*
of God .
Reverse.Ai

jikj

730 ."
^

A^ -C

" Mu h a m m a d ibn Tu gh la q Sh a h ."

b. Co p p e r ; m ixed m etal.
Obverse.J j W ^ UM
Reverse.As

a.

" Th e ju st Im am ."

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvut
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

c. Cop p er .

ObverseJb.LJh
u

Reverse.J jUH

.
( - "Th e ju st Su lt a n ."

1. Jalalu-d-din Ahsan Shah, A.H. 735-740 = A.D. I334- i 339, the

governor of Ma'bar, who threw off his allegiance to the
throne of Delhi. Silver, impure silver, and copper coins
dated A.H. 737 and 738.
2. Alau-d-din Udauji Shah, A.H. 740 = A.D. 1339. Mixed metal,
A.H. 740. Copper.
3. Qutbu-d-din Firoz Shah, A.H. 740. Copper, A.H. 740.
4. Ghiyathu-d-din Muhammad Damaghan Shah, A.H. 741 = A.D.
1340. Silver and billon, A.H. 741, copper ; copper and brass.
5. Nasiru-d-din Mahmud Ghazi Damaghan Shah, A.H. 745 = A.D.
1344. Impure silver ; copper, and mixed metal, A.H. 745.
6. 'Adil Shah, A.H. 757 = A.D. 1356. Mixed metal, A.H. 757, and
copper.
7. Fakhru-d-din Mubarak Shah, A H. 761-770. Copper, A.H. 761,
763, 765, 767, 768, 769, 770.
8. Alau-d-din Sikandar Shah, A.H. 774-779 = A.D. 1372-1377.
Copper, A.H. 774, 779.
The Sultans of Madura were defeated by the troops of the
Vijayanagara empire in A.D. 1371, but they continued to strike coins
for some years afterwards.
See Professor Hultzsch's " Coinage of the Sultans of Madura,"
J.R.A.S., 1909, p. 667;. Mr. Rodgers' "Coins of the Musalman
18 9 5 , p. 4 9 ; Captain Tufnell's Hints to
Kings of Ma'bar," J.A.S.B.,
Coin Collectors in Southern India, pp. 30-33.

VOL.

I X.

2B

zyxwvuts
zy
zyx
The

Dominions,

III.Bahm ani

Nasir u -d -d in Ism ail

Kings

Eblems,

of the

and Coins

Dakhan}

...

A.D.

748

1347

748

1347

Ala u -d -d in H a s a n Sh a h Ga n gu Ba h m a n

Mu h a m m a d Sh a h Ba h m a n Gh a zi ( M u h a m m a d I.) ...

75 9 ?

1358

Mu ja h id Sh a h ibn Mu h a m m a d Sh a h

78 0

1378

D a u d Sh a h (r eign ed 35 d a ys)

78 0

1378

Mu h a m m a d Sh a h ibn Ma h m u d
H a s a n (Mu h a m m a d I I .) ...

ibn

78 0

1378

Gh iya su -d -d in
6 weeks)

Sh a h

799

1397

ibn

Mu h am m ad

...

A.H .

Ala u -d -d in
(r eign ed

Sh a m su -d -d in ...

79 9

1397

Fir oz Sh a h Ba h m a n i ...

800

1397

Ah m a d Sh a h W a li Ba h m a n i ( Ah m a d I.)

825

I422

...

10

Ala u -d -d in Ah m a d Sh a h ( Ah m a d I I .)

838

I43S

11

Ala u - d - d in H u m a yu n Sh a h ...

862

1457

12

Niza m Sh a h ibn H u m a yu n Sh a h

865

1461

13

Sh a m su -d -d in M u h a m m a d
Sh a h (Mu h a m m a d I I I .)

8 67

1463

14

Ma h m u d Sh a h ibn Mu h a m m u d Sh a h

887

148 2

IS

Ah m a d Sh a h ibn Ma h m u d Sh a h ( Ah m a d I I I .)

924

1518

16

Ala u -d -d in ibn Ma h m u d Sh a h

927

1520

17

Wa li- u lla h Sh a h ibn Ma h m u d Sh a h . . .

929

1522

18

Ka lim -u lla h Sh a h ibn Ma h m u d Sh a h

932

1525

Sh a h

ibn

H u m a yu n

zy

The founder selected Kulbarga as his capital, which was renamed

Ahsanabad. In A.D. 1435 the seat of government was transferred to
Bidar (the Muhammadabad of the coins). The kingdom when first
formed consisted of the upper basins of the Godaveri and Krishna Rivers,
i.e., the greater part of the Bombay Presidency south of Surat, and
most of the Nizam's dominions. Atone period of the Bahmani dynasty
its dominion extended beyond the bounds given above.
1

This dynasty received its name from the supposed Brahman descent of its founder.

of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

yxv
zy
3

zyxwvu
zy

Copper coins of all the kings mentioned in the list are still to be
obtained in the Dakhan, with the exception of Nos. 15 and 16, whose
coins have not yet been identified.
Copper coins of the following kings and dates have been noted :
Nos. 8, A.H. 825; 9, A.H. 825-828, 830, 833, 834, 836-838; 10,
A.H. 838-848, 850-856, 859, 860; II, 863-866; 12, 866, 867; 13,
A.H. 868-880, 882, 884, 886; 14, A.H. 887-890, 894, 902 ; 18, A.H. 935,
942.
Gold coins of the following- kings and dates have been identified :
o

Nos.

800; 10, A.H. 855 and 860;

I I , 13, A.H. 873, 8 7 7 , and 878 ; 14, A.H. 898.
Silver coins of the following kings and dates have been identified :
Nos. I , A.H. 757 and 758; 2, A.H. 760, 761, 771, 774, 775, 776, and
777 ; 3, A.H. 778 and 779 ; 5, A.H. 791, 793-799 ; 7- A-H. 799 ; 8, A.H. 800,
803-807, 8x0-825 ; 9, A.H. 826 and 829 ; 10, A.H. 844, 847, 850, 857859, and 861 ; II, A.H. 863 and 864; 13, A.H. 877-880; 14, A.H. 887
and 899.
The great rarity of the gold and silver coins of the early kings
is due to the Hindu bankers who, at the instance of the rajahs of
Bijanagar and Telingana, melted down all the coins which fell into
their hands in order that those of the Hindu princes might alone be
current in the Dakhan.
See Mr. Gibbs' "Gold and Silver Coins of the Bahmani Dynasty,"
2, A.H. 7 7 5 ;

Niim ism atic

3, A.H. 7 7 7 ^ 8 , A.H.

Chronicle,

1881.

See Dr. Codrington's "Coins of the Bahmani Dynasty," Num isChronicle,

1898, pp. 259-73.
See British Niim ism atic Journal, vol. v, 1895, pp. 280-2.
See R. Burns' "Th e Bahmani Kings," J.A.S.B.,
Ntim .
Stipp.
No. 49 of 1907.
See Thanawala, " Some Rare Silver and Copper Coins of the
Bahmani Kings," J.A.S.B.,
Nzim . Supp. No. 62 of 1909.
See C.B.M., vol. ii, 1885, and C.I.M., vol. ii, 1907, pp. 196-205.

m atic

2 B 2

zy

zyxwvuts
zy
zyx
The

Dominions,

IV.The

Am ir

Eblems,

Barid

Dy nasty

of

and

Cons

Bidar.

A. H .

A.D.

898

1492
150 4

Ka s im Ba r id

...

Am ir Ba r id

9 10

Al a Ba r id Sh a h (first assu m ed r oya lt y)

956

154 9

I b r a h im Ba r id Sh a h

970

1562

Ka s im Ba r id Sh a h

9 77

156 9

Mir za Ali Ba r id Sh a h

980

1572

Am i r Ba r id Sh a h I I . ...

10 18

160 9

...

zy

The founder was a Turk, who had been sold as a slave to the
Bahmani king Muhammad III., in whose service he distinguished
himself by reducing the rebel Mahrattas of Paitan and Chakan. The
last king- was divested of almost all his territories during; the war with
o

Burhan Shah of Ahmadnagar.

V . The 'Adil

Shahi

Dy nasty

of

Bijapur.
A.H .

A.D.

Ab d u l Muzaffar Yu s a f ' Ad il Sh a h

89S

148 9

I sm a il ' Ad il Sh a h

9 16

I SI 0

Ma llu ' Ad il Sh a h (seven m on t h s)

941

1534
1535

...

I b r a h im ' Ad il Sh a h I

941

5
6

Al i ' Ad il Sh a h ( Ali I.)

965

1557

I b r a h im ' Ad il Sh a h I I

988

158 0

M u h a m m a d ' Ad il Sh a h

10 37

1627

Al i ' Ad il Sh a h ( Ali I I .)

10 67

1656

Su lt a n Sika n d a r

10 83

1672

10 97

168 6

to

The founder was the son of an emperor of Rum (Asia Minor),

who was sold as a slave when travelling in India to the minister of the
Bahmani king Muhammad III. In A.D. 1467 he was appointed

yxv
zy
zyxwv
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

3 3

Commander-in-Chief of the Bahmani Army, and declared his

independence in A.D. 1489. He ruled over the country extending
on the east from the confluence of the Bhima and the Krishna to
the sea coast, and on the west from Goa to Bombay. This dynasty
was extinguished in A.D. 1686, when Aurangzeb captured Bijapur and
took the last prince prisoner.
It is thought that Yusaf 'Adil Shah, finding the Lingayat pagoda
(No. 1, p. 312) in circulation in part of his territory, continued the issue,
with the addition of the Persian letters ain [r] or sin [ ^ j impressed on
the heart-shaped symbol, until he could establish an orthodox Moslem
type of his own.
Copper coins have been identified of the last five princes by
Dr. G. P. Taylor ( J . A . S . B . , A r u m . Supp. No. 10 8 of 19 12 ) , who reads
their inscriptions as follows :

zyxw

Ali I.Weight

52 -18 6 grs. (roun d), 58 grs. (square).

1. Obverse.,

J Us

"

A l i

s o n

o f

A b i

( = Ab u ) T a l i b "

( Ali bein g th e fourth khalifa).

Reverse.

JU1V 411 JuJ

"Th e

lion of

God th e

over com in g."

Plat e I I I , Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 a is the same as Fig. 1, but cut into the shape of a

Haidarabad dub for circulation in the Nizam's dominions.
6 0 -18 3 g r s - (roun d).

Ibrahim II.Weight
2. Obverse.^ J jl

" Ibr ah im with out a secon d (the un ique) ? "

. Jlc- A i

Reverse.

" Sla ve of Ali the chosen ."

v r
Some of Dr. Taylor's coins are dated A.H. 1022.
j

Muham m ad.Weight
56-267 grs.
3. Obverse an d reverse form this co u p le t
i U - j e^ A.^ L^ i^ T J^ -j.-c o ^ Aj
" Th e world from these t wo Mu h am m ad s received b ea u t y an d d ign it y ;
Th e first is Mu h am m ad th e Ap ost le, th e secon d Mu h am m ad Sh ah ."
Ali II.Weight

58 -179 grs.

4. Obverse.. . . aJw s l i J J U
Reverse. .jJ Ls , AJ ^ J l c

1c

" Ali 'Ad il Sh a h year 1068 ? "

" Sla ve of H a id a r the ran k breaker."

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsr
zyxw
The

Sikandar.Weight

Dominions,

58 -178 grs.

5. Obverse.i_ >jjlj

Eblems,

and

Coins

Ot h er d at e A.H. 10 8 7.

^ M-j

" Ye a r 10 86 Su lt an Sika n d a r

th e powerful."
Reverse.^ ILJ

" Kh u sr au , th e con qu er or of th e world."

^ JLxt

Gold coins of Muhammad of the same type as his copper

coins have been described by Dr. Taylor ( J . A . S . B . , N^ ^ m . Szipp.
No. 108 of 1912), who thinks that this king was the first of the
'Adil Shahi rulers to issue gold coins.
No silver coins of a type similar to the copper have yet been
discovered. The larin or " fish-hook" form of money was in
circulation in the seventeenth century along the western coast of
India. These pieces of silver, doubled in the centre, were fabricated
by Ali II., and bear the dates A.H. 1071 and 1077. Dr. Taylor
(J.A.S.B.,
Num .
Sitpp. No. 91 of 1910) reads the inscription on
the two prongs as follows :
Li J J L

^ I k L,

"Su lt a n Ali 'Ad il Sh ah ."

. <U-J

^ jjl <_tJ>

" St r u ck th e lari coin yea r

."

On one of Dr. Taylor's larins the title ali f^dW

Abu'l Muzaffar
Shah (father of the victor), borne by Ali I., appears. The larins weigh
from 71 to 78 grains.
V I . The Nizam

Shahi

Dy nasty

of

Ahm adnagar.

Ah m a d Niza m Sh a h ...

A.H.
896

A.D.
1490

Bu r h an Niza m Sh a h I.

9 14

150 8

H u sa in N iza m Sh a h

961

1553

Mu r t a za Niza m Sh a h I.

973

1565

5
6

Mir an H u sain Niza m Sh a h

997

1588

Ism ail Niza m Sh a h

99

1589

Bu r h an Niza m Sh a h I I .

999

1590

Ibr ah im Niza m Sh a h ...

10 0 3

9
10

Ah m a d ibn Sh a h Ta h ir

1003

1594
1594

Ba h a d u r Niza m Sh a h . . .

10 0 4

1595

11

Mu r t a za N iza m Sh a h I I . (son of Sh a h Ali)

10 0 7

1598

12

Ma ilik Am b a r

10 16

160 7

10 47

1637

7
8

...
...

to

of

the

Soth

yxv
z

Indian

35

Dynasties.

The founder was the son of a Brahmin of Vijayanagara, who had

been captured in his infancy by the army of the Bahman king
Ahmad I., and brought up as a Muhammadan. His father, having
been assassinated when prime minister in A.D. 1486, Ahmad began to
assert his independence. He founded Ahmadnagar in 1494, which
became the capital. The territories of Ahmadnagar were incorporated
into the Mughal Empire in 1637.
Copper coinage of the Nizam Shahs of Ahmadnagar. Of the
following coins Nos. 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 24, 25, and 26 are illustrated under thosefigures on P L AT E I I I .

zy

Ahm ad., A.H. 8 9 6 -9 14 , b u t d ou btfu l as . J j su ggest s t h e Ou t b d yn a st y.

Obverse.

1.

Reverse.

. . . I cli_ lU |

[?] Iir I <_J I i U k U ^ J

xvutspon

Burhan / ., A.H. 9 x4 -9 6 1, b u t d ou btfu l.

2.

f^

3.

45.

\ I

Qi

< > r^-'j

^
6.

[ ?] n | <u~> | . J

J
. . . I *L= ^Isy
U a ll |

^M I

IJ

I i^jCUS^b

[?]

W e igh t 250 gr s.

I _IU
j.wO

I I

I.

Tp [ <u-= I , j J

jU U Sjj j ,J

W e igh t 110 gr s.
W e igh t 220 gr s.

Murtaza / ., A.H. 9 73 -9 9 7, bu t Nos. 10 - 13 (<0 MAY be Mu r t a za

10 0 7-10 16 . No. 13 m a y be an ' Ad il Sh a h coin of a n ew t yp e.
7.
8.

...

1
-c ( 1 -z
>^ ' r J[
y| 1 >
cu^i

10.
11.

W e igh t 244 grs.

*

^ | AA-j |

0 1
1 ^
1 AV | ^ sy c
\ jL)

9-

W e igh t 165 gr s.

We igh t 160 gr s.

dj r c l

We igh t 220 gr s.

12.

. . .

13130 0

^j j j

IcjUj/ o
. . . u j u ^ b

X)

II., A.H.

4 Li ^

Sl i |Uaj

We igh t 165 gr s.
W e igh t 234 gr s.

zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsr
zyxwvuts
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

II, A.H. 9 9 9 -10 0 3 .

Burhan

14 a n d 15.

, YI ^ d k LJ ^ Lv J UI

Obverse.

"s t r u c k

a t t h e s ea t of

t h e Su lt a n a t Bu r h a n a b a d , 10 0 1."
Reverse.

,j

I , i_Sl " I n t h e m o n t h s of t h e ye a r
' J
cn e t h o u s a n d a n d on e."

These coins have been attributed to the Mughal emperor Akbar,

but as Burhanabad is also the name of Shahr-i-nau near Ahmadnagar,
and as specimens are found in large numbers in the Dakhan, they may
be assigned to this dynasty. They are found in three sizes weighing
230, 145, and 110 grains.
16.

Obverse.-As

17.

As N o . 15, b u t of a b old er t yp e .

18 .

As N o . 17, b u t we igh t 70 gr s.
Bahadur,

N o . 14.

dS\

Reverse.:

A.H. 10 0 4 -10 0 7, or Murtaza

19.

Obverse t:

20 .

Obverse.As

2 1.

Obverse.As

< j|

W e i g h t 110 gr s.

W e i g h t 230 gr s.
II.

Reverse.. . . | < G U J | W e i g h t 220 gr s.

N o . 19.

<u~; | ,J

Reverse.|

Weigh t

150 gr s.

Als o 10 0 7.
Nizam

N o . 19.

Reverse.--As N o . 19.

22.

Obverse.Jij

jli> - ^ u - *

23.

Obverse.As

N o . 22.

2 4 -2 6 .

W e i g h t 4 0 gr s.

Shah's nam e not read.

Obverse..

. .

Reverse..

. | <u~J |

W e i g h t 24S gr s.

W e i g h t 150 gr s.
^ ly c

. . .

Reverse.

W e i g h t 160 gr s.

The coins of this dynasty were first brought to notice by

Mr. F. Jamasjee, J.A.S.B.,
Num .
Supp. No. 48 of 1907, but more
coins are required before the legends can be read correctly.
Copper coins bearing the name Ibrahim,
are common in the
Dakhan, but as the remainder of the legend is illegible it is impossible
to assign them to this or the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
VII. The
I
2
3
4
5

Qtrib

Shahi

Dy nasty

of

Gulkanda.

Su lt a n Ku li Q u t b Kh a n
J a m s h id Ku li Q u t b Kh a n . . .
I b r a h im Q u t b Sh a h
M u h a m m a d Ku li Q u t b Sh a h (fou n d ed H a id a r a b a d 158 9 )
Ab d u l l a h Q u t b Sh a h
Ab u H a s a n . . .
to

A.H.

A. D.

9 18
9 50

15 12

957

1543
1550

989
10 36
10 8 3
10 98

158 1
16 2 6
16 72
16 8 6

of

the

Soth

yxv
zy

zyxw
zy

Indian

Dynasties.

The founder was a Turkuman chief who had come to seek his
fortune in the Dakhan towards the close of the reign of the Bahmani
king Muhammad III. He was soon ennobled and made governor of
Telingana. He declared his independence in A.D. 1512, and assumed
the title of King of Gulkanda, the name of the village where he built
his capital. The seat of government was removed to Haidarabad in
A.D. 1589. The territories of Gulkanda were incorporated into the
Mughal Empire in A.D. 1686.
The only coins which have, as yet, been attributed to this dynasty
are the common copper coins of Abdullah Qutb Shah, although his
name does not appear on them, which are described but not figured in
J.A.S.B.,
Num .
Supp.
No. 64 of 1909. Ferishta states that the
King of Gulkanda struck gold coins but none have yet come to light.
5. Ab d u lla h Qu t b Sh a h .W e igh t 10 8 -16 4 grs.
\ io LU ^ I J

Obverse.jW

PLATE I I I , Figs. 1-3 .

" St r u ck

at

th e seat

of th e

Su lt a n a t H a id a r a b a d ."

Reverse.

!*1A J ^ j ^ I j |

" I t h as com e t o an en d well

an d au sp iciou sly, yea r 10 68."

The pathetic legend on the reverse is said to be a prediction of the

speedy downfall of his kingdom.
Copper coins of the same type, weighing 98 and 157 grs., bear the
date 1095, from which it would appear that the same coins were issued
by Abdullah Outb Shah's successor.
The same legend is arranged differently on some of the coins.
VIII. The

Im ad

Shahi

Dy nasty

of

Birar.

...

A.H .

A.D.

889

1484

Fa t h u lla h 'Im a d Sh a h Ba h m a n i

Ala u -d -d in 'Im ad Sh a h

9IO

150 4

D a r ya ' I m a d Sh a h

1528

Bu r h a n ' I m a d Sh a h

935
968

1560

Tu fail Kh a n

976

1568

982

1574

...
to

zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

zyxwv

The founder was originally a Hindu boy of Vijayanagara, who had

been captured by the Muhammadans. He was enrolled in the bodyguard of the governor of Birar, and afterwards repaired to the camp of the
Bahmani king Muhammad III., who ennobled him. He declared his
independence in A.D. 1484, and made Elichpur his capital. In A.D. I 568
Tufail Khan usurped the throne when acting as regent for Burhan
;Imad Shah, but in A.D. 1574 he was captured and slain by Murtaza
Shah of Ahmadnagar, who annexed the Birar territories. Birar was
incorporated into the Mughal Empire in A.D. 1637, when Ahmadnagar
was annexed.

zyxwvuts

IX.The

South

Indian

Mints
of

of the folloiving
India.

Mughal

Em perors

A.H .

A.D.

963

15 5 6

Ak b a r ( E lich p u r on ly)

J a h a n gir

IOI4

16 0 5

Sh a h J ah an I. ...

I O3 7

16 2 8

Au r a n gze b , Ala m gir I.

10 6 8

16 5 8

6a

A' za m Sh a h

11 18 - 9

17 0 7

6b

Ka m Ba kh sh

1119

17 0 7 - 8

Sh a h Al a m I . Ba h a d u r Sh a h . . .

1119

170 7

J a h a n d a r Sh a h . . .

112 4

17 12

9
11

F a r r u k h - Siya r ...

112 4

1713

Sh a h J a h a n I I . Rafi'u -d -d au la

II3I

17 19

12

M u h a m m a d Sh a h

II3I

17 19

13

Ah m a d Sh a h

IL6 L

174S

14

Ala m gi r I I .

15

Sh a h Al a m I I .

...

...

...

...

...

zyxwvu
v

116 7

1754

"73

1759

in the Bellary District, called Imtiyazgarh [sj^Ulcl]

Nos. 6,1 rupee ; hJ, rupee ; 9, commenced the gold coinage on

Adoni

Th e numbers refer to the emperor on the list ; R Y = Regnal year ; the A.H.
date on the coins is given in brackets.

of

yxv
zyxwv
zyxw

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

the pattern of the South Indian hun or pagoda ; 12, gold

pagoda (R.Y. 3); 13, rupee; 14, rupee (A.H. II70),
pagoda (R.Y. 21), half-pagoda.
Ahm adnagar

zyxwvut
\]

No. 4, muhr and rupee (early but after 6th R.Y.), rupee
( A.H . 10 3 6 ) ; 5,rupee ( A.H . 10 4 1, 10 6 1) ; 6, muhr ( A.H . 10 9 7)rupee (R.Y. 1, A.H . 10 9 6 - 8 , 110 8 , 1 1 15 , n 18 ) , nisar
( A.H . 1118) ; 6a, rupee ; 7> rupee ( A.H . 1 12 2 ) ; copper ; 9>
copper (R.Y. 5 ) ; 15, copper ( A.H . 1119 ) .
Ahsanabad

or Kulbarga

[jLUu^ lA^ AK]

No. 6, muhr (A.H. 1105, 1115, Ahsanabad mint), rupee

(A.H. 1098, 1104, Kulbarga mint), rupee (Ahsanabad mint),
copper ; 6b, rupee (both mints) ; 7> rupee (Ahsanabad);
8, muhr (A.H. X 124).
Alam girpur,

supposed to be Ouamarnagar, near Karnul in the

Dakhan.
No. 9, rupee (R.Y. 2) ; 12, rupee (R.Y. 30).
Arkat

[c^ K I]

No. 9, rupee (A.H. 1129, 1130) ; 12, rupee (A.H. 113X, 114X,
1158) ; 14, rupee (R.Y 4, 6).
A^lrungabad became the headquarters of the Mughal Dakhan
government on the capture of Daulatabad in A.D. 1632. From A.H.
1100 the town is called on the coins Khujista-bunyad = of auspicious
foundation [J IJ JU I Lu ^ ]
No. 6, muhr

xvuts

rupee ( A.H . 10 72 , 3, 4, and 6,

10 9 3 , 10 9 4 , 10 9 8 , 110 6 , 1112 , 1113, 1 1 1 5 - 6 ) ; 6a, muhr,
rupee ( A.H . 1 1 1 9 ) ; 7> rupee ( A.H . 112 2 ) ; 9, muhr
( A.H . 1 12 9 ) , rupee ( A.H . 112 5 ) ; I I , rupee ( A.H . 1 13 1) ; 12 ,
muhr (Aurungabad), muhr (A.H. 115X R.Y. 8? Khujistabunyad), rupee ; 13, rupee ; 14, rupee ; 15, rupee
( A.H . 10 70 ,

(A.H. 118 7 ) .

10 9 3 ) ,

zyxwvutsrq
zyx
zyxwvutsr
The

zyxwv
zyxw
Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

after its capture by the Mughals, was given the epithet

of Daru-z-zafar=" the abode of victory" [
No. 6, muhr (A.H. 1104, 1106, n 6x, R.Y. 49), rupee (R.Y. 30,
A.H. 1101, 1103-6, 1108, 1 n o, 1115-6); 61b, rupee
(R.Y. 1, 2, A.H. 1120) ; 7. rupee; 9, muhr, copper falus.
Bijapur ,

(Shrikakolam) or Sikakul [ J i ^ J in Ganjam.

No. 9, muhr; 13, rupee (R.Y. 2).

Cliicacole

the Mughal name for Madras.

No. 6, gold nisar (A.H. I I O 3 , I I I I ) , rupee (A.H. 1103, R.Y.
40-2, 49, 51); 7, rupee (A.H. 1120, R.Y. 3); 9, rupee
(A.H. 1126-1130) ; 12, rupee (R.Y. 8).

Chinapatan

Daulatabad

[ ^ L U A^ ]

[J LIC^ J .J ]

No. 5, muhr (A.H. 1052, 1062, 1064, 1066, 1068), rupee (A.H.
1037, 1057-8, 1061, 1067-8), half-rupee.
Elichptir

[,^ 1)1]

No. 3, rupee; 4, rupee; 6, rupee (A.H. 1117); 7> rupee

(A.H. II23), copper falus (A.H. 1120) ; 8, rupee; 9, rupee
(A.H. I 125) ; 12, copper falus (A.H. 1135) ; 13, copper
falus ; 14, copper falus ; 15, copper falus. No gold coins
of this mint.
j]. Town not identified.
No. 7, muhr (A.H. 1122), rupee (A.H. 1123).

Firozgarh

seven miles from Haidarabad.

No. 5. rupee and half-rupee ; 6, rupee (A.H. 1069, 1071, 1076,
R.Y. 1, 4, 6, 12, 13, 15, 17-19, 23-27, 29, 31). A few
gold mohurs were struck here, but no copper coins. The
Mughal mint was transferred to Haidarabad in the 32nd
year of Aurangzeb (A.H. I 100).

Gulkanda

is called Daru-l-jihad
= " the
abode of religious warfare"] on the coins of Aurangzeb and Kam
Haidarabad

COPPER COINS OF TH E AHMAD SH AH S OF AHMADNAGAR.

PH C1 0 PH AN E

CO . S. E.

xn

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfed
P L AT E

III.

of

the

zyx
zyxw

zyxwzy

Soh

Indian

Dynasties.

Bakhsh, and Farkhunda-bunyad [jLtJu xsl^ -Ji = " of auspicious foundation "] on those of Shah Alam I. and Muhammad Shah.
No. 6, muhr, rupee (A.H. 1099, noo, 1107, 1112, 1114),
copper falus (A.H. 1107, 1108); 65, muhr (A.H. 1120);
7, rupee (A.H. 1122), copper falus; 12, muhr and rupee.
[,y<u!U-] is the same place as Jalna, 39 miles east of

Jalnapitr

Aurungabad.
No. 4, rupee (A.H. 1015).
[J UI^J ^]

K'arim abad

has not been identified.

No. 6, rupee (R.Y. 3) ; 7, rupee (A.H. 1122, R.Y. 4).

Kadapa,

Ctiddapah,

or Kurpa

[the old name, L

No. 6, rupee (R.Y. 37).

[,yLu] is the name of a part of the city of Madras.

Mailapur

No.

6,

Masulipatam

copper falus
or

(A.I-I.

Machhlipatan

I I I X).

[ ^ u u l ^ = " the city of fish "]

on the Coromandel coast.

No. 6 and continued by his successors until A.H. 1197, copper
falus (A.H. ino-1122, 1131, 1x34, 1170, 1173, 1179,
1197), copper half falus (A.H. 1115, 1118). The R.Y.
does not always agree with the A.H.
j^.] or Akloj, 55 miles north-west of Sholapur.
No. 9, rupee (R.Y. 5).

Sddnagar

[f.

Sholapur

No. 6, muhr, rupee (A.H. 1081, 1096), copper falus (R.Y. 5),
copper half falus ; 7> muhr and rupee, copper falus and
half falus (R.Y. 5) ; 9, copper falus.
Toragal

xvutsp
is situated about 36 miles south of Galgali in the

Bijapur district.

No. 7. muhr (R.Y. 4), rupee (R.Y. 4).

zyxwvutsr
zy
zyxwvutsr
The

zyxwv
zy
Dominions,

Eblems,

and Coins

[jl>L&] may be Bidar. The same name was given by

Tipu, Sultan of Maisur, to Gurrumcondah.
No. 5- rupee (A.H. 1069) ; 6, rupee (A.H. 1070, 1074, 1079) ;
7, rupee (A.H. 1119).
Zafarabad

Zafarnagar

[.tjy ds]

a town south of Ahmadnagar.

No. 4, rupee ; 5> rupee (3rd and 5th Ilahi year, A.H. 1043) >
6, rupee.
X. N i z a m s of the

Dakhan.
A.H .

A.D.

Mir Kam r u -d -d in Niza m -u l-Mu lk Asa f-ja h ...

112 4

1712

Mir Ah m a d Kh a n -N a sir J a n g (son of No. 1)

116 1

' 1743

H id a ya t Mu h a yyin -d -d in
(gr an d son of No. 1) . . .

116 4

1750

Sa la b a t J a n g (th ird son of No. 3)

116 4

S
6

Niza m Ali Asaf-jah -i-san i (th ir d son of No. 1)

1176

i 7Si
1763

Sika n d a r -ja h (secon d son of No. 5) ...

1218

1803

Ta lm a it Ali Kh a n Bah ad u r Nasir u -d -d au la (eld est

son of No. 6 ) ...

1244

1829

Afzalu d 'd au la

1273

18 57

Mir Ma h b u b Ali
Nizam -u d -d au la

128 6

1869

Kh a n

Kh a n

Muzaffar

Ba h a d u r

Fath

J ang

J ang

The founder was a distinguished soldier of the Emperor Aurangzeb,

who was appointed Nizam-ul-Mulk ( = Regulator of the State) and
Subahdar of the Dakhan in A.D. 1713, but he eventually threw off the
control of the Delhi court, and established the independent kingdom
about A.D. 1723, now governed by his descendants.
The copper coins of the 6th, 7th, and 8th Nizams, struck in the
name of the Emperor of Delhi at the Aurungabad mint, bear their
initials, viz.,
(S), u (N), and 1 (A) respectively.
For the coinage of the Nizams see p. 270 British
Num ism atic
Journal,

v o l . v, 1 9 0 8 .

yxv
zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrqpo
of

the

XI. The

Soth

Indian

Naw abs

of the

Dynasties.

33

Karnatik.

A.H .

A.D.

IIIO

1698

S'a 'a d a t u 'lla (first assu m ed t it le of N a wa b of t h e

Ka r n a t ik)

1 12 0

170 8

Do s t ' Ali

1 14 6

1733

Saffdar ' Ali

"53

1740

M u r t a za ' Al i (exp elled after a few d a ys)

1155

1742

Kh wa ja h Ab d u lla h Kh a n (ap p oin t ed b y t h e N iza m )

1155

1742

An wa r u -d -d in Kh a n (a p p oin t ed b y t h e N iza m )

IIS 7

1744

Sa iyid Mu h a m m a d Kh a n

11S7

1744

H u sa in ' Ali or Ch a n d a Sa h ib (ap p oin t ed b y t h e

N iza m )

116 2

1749

10

M u h a m m a d ' Ali , or W a la - ja h

116 5

1752

11

Da u d Kh a n P a n i (m ad e N a wa b of Ar k a t
Zu lfakar Kh a n )

by

'Um d a t u l'u m ar a

120 9

I79S

12

' Ali H u sa in (d ep osed b y t h e E a s t In d ia Co m p a n y)

12 16

I80I

13

' Azim d 'd au la ...

12 16

18 0 1

1234

18 19

Ter r it or ies d eliver ed over t o t h e E a s t In d ia

Com p a n y ...

The Karnatik under the Mughals formed one of the principal

provinces of the " subah " or government of the Dakhan, and was
administered by the subahdar's nawab, or deputy, under the title of
Nawab of Arkat, the whole nawabship taking its name from the capital.
The office was held by commission from Delhi, the subahdar of the
Dakhan being allowed to make temporary appointments when vacant.
When the Mughal Empire fell into decay the subahdar claimed the right
of appointment as his prerogative, and the Nawab strove to render it
hereditary in his family.
Their dominions under the Mughals included nearly the whole
of the south-eastern portion of the peninsula from the Krishna to
the country immediately north of the Coleroon, and at the same time

34

zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

it was so confined on the west as not to leave it an average breadth of

more than 75 miles.
The Nawabs struck the " three-swami " or Kuruki, Porto Novo, and
Madras star pagodas at various times, which formed the chief currency
after the disappearance of the coins of the Vijayanagara empire from
circulation.
S'a'adatu'lla struck the Porto Novo type of pagoda with the
Persian letters <0J\ (illah) on a convex granulated surface. Saffdar Ali
struck a similar coin with the Persian letter (ain) on the reverse.
These were copies of the pagodas struck by the ex-rajahs of
Vijayanagara when resident at Chandragiri, and werefinally imitated
by the East India Company. Muhammad Ali struck various pagodas
at Arkat, Trichinopoli, and Tiruvamur, and Arkat and Pondicherry
rupees. It is said " that the rupees struck at Tiruvamur did not bear
the name of the mint, but that of Arkat, and that the mint officers, to
distinguish them, added to the die a mark like that on their foreheads,
probably the triple 'nama' of the Sri Vaishna sect."1 This was
probably the lotusflower, which the Madras mint officials of the East
India Company afterwards retained as a mint mark to differentiate the
coins from the Arkat silver series struck at the Calcutta mint.
The copper coins of Muhammad 'Ali have been described in
The Num ism atic
Chronicle,
1910, pp. 156-7, 324-5.

zyxw

X I I . T h e Muham m adan

Usurpers

of
A.M.

zyx

Maisur.

A.H .

A.D.

H a id a r ' Ali Kh a n

1175

176 1

Tip u Su lt an ...

II97

178 2

12 14

179 9

H in d u lin e restored after th e d ea t h of Tip u

1227

In A.H. 1201 Tipu instituted the Muludi era (dating from the
birth of Muhammad instead of from the year of theflight), which date
appears on his coins as 12 15 ( A. M . ) .
]

Letter from the Dewan to Sir W. Elliot, p. 144, footnote.

of

the

Soth

yxv
zy
zyxw
zyxw

Indian

Dynasties.

33

Coins were struck at the following mints :

Copper from

Bangahir

A.H .

1200 to A.M. 1219.

b]- Copper 20-cash pieces (not dated).

Bellary

Pagodas and rupees in A.M. 1216.

Farukhi
[ ^- J], 6 miles south-east of Kalikut on the Malabar
coast. Gold fanams and copper in A.M. 1216-18.
Ferukkabab
Hissar
(jU-^i], the name given by Tipu to
Chituldrug. On the 40-cash pieces it is described Daru-ssultanat [c^JdaLJ! = the seat of the Sultanat], The copper
coinage is dated A.M. 1215-19.
[J^ LAO].

Dharw ar

^Ai], the name given to Gooty in Bellary

District. Copper, A.M. 1215-26.
Kalikut
[CU^-CAK]- Gold fanams and copper in A.I-I. 1198-1200,
A.M. 1 2 1 5 and 1218.
Khalakabad
[jMjiSU-]. Chandagal near Seringapatam. Fanams
and copper, A.M . 12 1 5 - 17 , 1225.

Fiss

Hissar

the name given to Dharwar.

Pagodas, rupees, and copper in A.M. 1217, and rupees and
copper in A.M. 1218.

Khurshad

Stiad

[J LJ

y (J]>

or Bednur, described as Daru-s-sultanat on the

40-cash pieces. Copper, A.H. 1189; muhrs, pagodas, fanams,
and 40-, 20-, 10- and 5- copper cash, from A.H. 1197 to
A.M. 1227.
Nazarbar
[ BJ V;] . Not identified. Copper in A.M. 1216.
Salam abad
[jU A J, or Satyamangalam, near Tanjore. Copper,
A.M. 1216-18.
Seringapatam
or Puttun, [,!> " the city "], described on some of
the coins as Daru-s-sultanat. Muhrs, half-muhrs, pagodas,
fanams, double-rupees, rupees,
yg- rupees, copper 40-,
20-, 10-, 5-, and 2^-cash from A.H. 1195 to A.M. 1226.
VOL. i x .
2 c
Nagar

[Jj~ \

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvutsr
zy
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

[jL>Laii]> probably Gurrumcondah. Copper in A.M. 1216

and 1218.
The Hindu and Muhammadan coins of Maisur have been described
in vol. v, 1909, of this Journal.
Zafarabad

TH E

E U R O P E AN

SE TTLE M E N TS

1.

The

IN

SOUTH E RN

I N D I A.

Portuguese.

The Portuguese under Vasco da Gama landed at Kalikut in

1498. Their early discoverers were not traders, but admirals with
a royal commission to conquer territory. At the zenith of their power,
from 1590 to 1610, they held the fortified towns of Diu, Damao, Goa,
Chaul, Hanowar, Mangalore, Kannanur, Cochin, Calaiate, Colombo, and
many other places. However, their power, after lasting nearly a
century, fell into insignificance, owing partly to the efforts of the Dutch
and British. Their only possessions in India now are Goa, Damao, and
Diu; all on the west coast, with an area of 1,086 square miles.
They struck numerous coins in gold, silver, copper, and tutenag.
Their chief mints were Goa, Damao, and Diu the two last being closed
in 1864 and the first in 1880; after which date Portuguese coins were
struck on their behalf by the Government of India. Their coins
were published by Da Cunha in the Jr. Bom . As. Soc., vols, xiv and
xv, 1882.
2.

The

Dutch.

The Dutch were the first European nation to break through the
Portuguese monopoly of oriental trade. In 1664 they wrested from the
Portuguese all their earlier settlements on the Malabar coast. The knell
of Dutch supremacy, however, was sounded by Clive, when he defeated
them at Chinsurah in 1758. In the wars from 1781 to 1811, Britain
wrested from Holland all her colonies. At the present time the Dutch
flag flies nowhere on the mainland of India.
Large numbers of their coins are still to be found on the west
coast; the " duits " or " challis " were current for many years in Cochin
and other places on this coast, and were exported for the eastern
currency. The Dutch coinage consisted of :

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsrqp
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

I. Rough coins of local m anufacture s t a m p e d wit h 2, 1,

St iver ), t h e S T b e in g fr eq u en t ly in ver t ed b y er r or .
I I . Copper " duits"
a n d f.

or " challis"

st iver s.

J , J S t ( St u ive r =

Se e P la t e I I , 11a, b, d, e,

a. H o lla n d .
Obverse.-The a r m s of H o lla n d .
Reverse.--V.O.C. ( Ve r e in igt e Os t in d is ch e Co m p a gn ie ) wit h m in t -m a r k
S ; r ose b et ween t wo p ellet s a b ove. D a t e s in m y collect ion from
173 2 t o 1790 .
b. Ze e la n d .
1. Obverse.The a r m s of Zeela n d .
Reverse.As
a, b u t m in t -m a r k va r ied . D a t e s in m y collect ion
from 1735 t o 1790 .
2. As N o . I , b u t legen d " L u c t o r et e m e r g o " r ou n d t h e coa t -of-a r m s on
t h e r ever se.
c. Ze e la n d .
1.
Obverse.ZEELANDIA.
Reverse.V.O.C.
2. Obverse.ZEELANDIA
su r m ou n t ed b y a ca st le a n d t wo star s.
Reverse.V.O.C.
d. Geld er la n d .
Obverse.The a r m s of Geld er la n d .
Reverse.As
a, b u t m in t -m a r k va r ied .
178 6 t o 1790 .
e. Ut r e ch t .
Obverse T h e a r m s of U t r e ch t .
Reverse.As
a, b u t m in t -m a r k va r ied .
174 4 t o 179 0 (ot h er s t o 179 4 ).
f.

Fr isela n d .
Obverse.The a r m s of F r is e la n d .
Reverse.As a, b u t m in t -m a r k va r ied .

D a t e s in m y collect ion from

D a t e s in m y collect ion from

D a t e s from 173 1 t o 179 2.

g. Ge ld e r la n d .
Obverse.D. G E L . R / E .
Reverse.V.O.C.
I I I . Half chaltis, cop p er .
a. Obverse.Plain a r m s cr own ed .
Reverse.V.O.C.
wit h m in t -m a r k. Da t e s from 1753 t o I 7SSb. Obverse.Crowned
sh ield co n t a in in g lion r a m p a n t ( H o lla n d ) .
Reverse.V.O.C.
2 c 2

zyxwvutsrqp
zy
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

I V. Double challis, copper .

Obverse.The ar m s of Ut r ech t .
ReverseV.O.C.
an d m in t-m ar k above, d at e 1790 below.

V. Other Indo-Dutch copper coins.

1. Obverse.V.O.C. i st. above.
Reverse.Sword surroun ded b y " Ba t a via An n o 1644."
2. Obverse.Arm s of H olla n d wit h i on left an d C on r igh t .
Reverse.A star | I N D I TE | B A T A V
3. Obverse.As No. 2, b u t 5 on left, ^ on r igh t, an d G (Ga lle) undern eath .
Reverse.A star | I N D I TE | B A T A V | 1808. Ot h er d at e 18 25.
4.
stiver.
Obverse.Arm s of H olla n d .
Reverse.A star | N E D E R L . | I N D I E | 1825 | S.
5. ^ stiver.
Obverse.As No. 4, bu t st.
Reverse.As No. 4.
6. 2 cen ts.
Obverse.As No. 4, bu t 2 c ( = 2 cen ts).
Reverse.NEDERL
| I N D I E | 18 35. Ot h er d at es 18 30 an d 18 36.
7. 1 cen t.
Obverse.As No. 4, bu t 1 c.
Reverse.As No. 6, b u t d at e 1840 .
VI . Dutch copper coins in Cey lon. Coin s of 4%, 2, 1,
an d j stiver of
local m an ufacture, few of wh ich bear t h e d ate.
x. Obverse.V.O.C. su r m ou n ted b y C [Colom bo]. " St iver " in full with
d at e below.
Reverse.The
Ta m il in itial of " E l a n k a i " (ver n acu lar n am e for
Ceylon ).
2. Obverse.V.O.C. su r m ou n ted b y G (Galle). S T (for stiver).
Reverse.As No. 1.
3. Obverse.V.O.C. sur m oun ted b y T (Tr in com a llee). St (for stiver).
Reverse.As No. 1.
VI I . Indo-Dutch silver coins.

1 an d 2 stivers of 1820 t o 1830 .

1. Obverse.Arm s of th e r esp ective states su r m ou n ted b y a crown with

1 S or 2 S in th e field. Millin g roun d th e field.
Reverse.Nam e of state, e.g., H O L | L A N | D I A, Z E E | L A N |
D I A wit h d at e below.
Th ose of Fr isia, or We s t

| F R | I S I A d ate so far b a ck as 1660 .

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvuts
of

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

33

2. Obverse.Lion r am p an t to left.
Reverse.As No. 1.
6 stiver.
3. Obverse.Arm s, date, an d 6 S T I V E R in the field.
Reverse.A ship.

coat-of-arms on the Dutch coins is invariablysurmounted by a crown which varies with the arms of the province.
to
Coin
For Indo-Dutch coins see p. 45 Tufnell's Hints
N O T E . T h e

Collectors

in Southern

India,

a n d p . 3 4 3 , .vol. v, British

Num ism atic

Journal.
3.

The

French.

The first French East India Company was started in 1604. For
some 70 or 80 years the French and British existed side by side in
complete harmony, with no ambition of territorial aggrandisement. The
war of the Austrian succession in Europe lit thefirst flame of hostility
on the Coromandel coast.
In 1746, Madras was captured by the French, but was restored
by the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. From this time, however, the
rivalry of the two nations was keen, and found its opportunities in
the disputed successions of the native princes. The British finally
defeated the French at Wandewash in 1760. Two years later the
French possessions were restored, but the opportunity of taking the
place of the paramount power in India was gone, nor were their later
efforts, which were continued till 1802, more successful.
Their coins, usually distinguished by the Gallic cock or fleur-delys, have been noticed in Tufnell's Hints to Coin Collectors in South
India, p. 44, and in vol. v of this Journal,
p. 345.
4. The

Danes.

The Danish East India Company was formed in 1612, their first
vessel reaching India in 1618. They obtained from the Nayaka of
Tanjore a tract of country, 18 miles north of Negapatam, where they
built the fort of Dansborg, the whole settlement being known as
Tranquebar. Shortly afterwards they acquired Porto Novo, and

zy
zyxwvutsrq

zyxwvut

The

Dominions,

Eblems,

and

Coins

Seram pur near Calcutta. Th eir possessions were captured in 1808 by

the British, but restored in 18 14. Th e y were, however, purchased by
the British in 1845.
Indo-Danisk

Christian

IV.,

Coinage.

A.D. 15 8 8 - 16 4 8

1. Le a d .
Obverse.Crowned
C wit h 4 en clos ed .
Reverse.T.B.
( = Tr a n q u e b a r ) | C A S | 16 4 5.
2. Co p p e r .
Obverse.As
Reverse.TB

Frederick

III.,

W e i g h t 6 4 I gr s.

N o . 1.
| K A S | 164X.

A.D. 16 4 8 - 16 7 0

1. Le a d .
Obverse.Crowned
F . 3.
Reverse.(a) Ar m s o f J u t la n d ; (b) T h e H o ls t e in n e t t le le a f; (c) T h e
Gu lla n d is ch e la m b ; (d) Ar m s of St o r m a n ; (e) Ar m s of D e lm e n h o r s t ;
( / ) Ar m s of I s la n d ; (g) A r o s e ; (h) D . B. ( = D a n s b o r g) a n d d a t e ;
(2) An e le p h a n t ; (k) A cr oss ; (J ) A d r a go n .
2. Co p p e r .
Obverse.As
Reverse.The

N o . 1.
N o r we gia n lion .

3. Co p p e r .
Obverse.As N o . 1.
Reverse.ANNO
| 16 6 7.

Christian

V., A.D. 16 7 0 - 16 9 9

1. Silve r . P ia s t e r .
Obverse.C 5 cr own ed .
Reverse.PIASTER.
2. Si lve r . 5 fan os.
Obverse.As N o . 1.
Reverse.5 fa n os a n d d a t e 168 3.
3. Si lve r . 2 fan os.
Obverse.As N o . X.
Reverse.2 fan os a n d d a t e 168 3

W e i g h t I 2 gr s.

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsrq
of

4. Le a d .

the

Soth

Indian

Dynasties.

Obverse.C5 cr own ed a n d lin ked , a n d d a t e 168 7.

Reverse.D.O.C.
( D a n s k Os t in d is k Co m p a g n i ) : W on left, H on r igh t ,
V. K . b elow = W . H . V. K. (in it ia ls of Da n is h is s u in g officer).
5. Le a d .
Obverse.C5 lin ked a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed .

W e i g h t 36^ gr s.

6. Le a d .
Obverse.As
Reverse.As

N o . 5.
N o. 5.

W e i gh t 76 J gr s.

7. Co p p e r .
Obverse.As N o . 5.
Reverse.Blank.
W e i gh t

1gr s .

8. Co p p e r .
Obverse.CC lin ked a n d cr own ed , 8 on left, 9 on r igh t = (16 )8 9 .
Revei-se.D.O.C.
lin ked a n d cr o wn e d : W on left, H on r igh t , V. K .
b elow = W . H . V. K.
W e i g h t 13 J gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es (16 )9 0 , 16 (9 1).
9. Cop p er .
Obverse.CC lin ked a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked a n d cr o wn e d : 1 on left, 6 on r igh t , 92 b elow
= 1692. W e i g h t 12 \ gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 1693, 1694, 16 9 7, 1699.
Frederick

IV.,

A.D.

16 9 9 - 17 3 0

1. Silve r . 1 fan os.

2. Silve r .2 fan os.
3. Co p p e r . 10 ca sh .
Obverse.FF lin ked a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked | X | K A S .
4 . Co p p e r . 2 ca sh .
Obverse.As N o . 3.
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked , 2 Ka s b elow.

W e i gh t 28 gr s.

5. Co p p e r . 1 cash .
Obverse.FF lin ked a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked , a n d cr own ed .

W e i gh t 13 a n d 17^ gr s.

6. Co p p e r .
Obverse.A m o n o gr a m con s is t in g of F 4 cr own ed .
Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed . W e i gh t 12-f gr s.

392

zy
zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsrq
The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

7. Co p p e r .

Obverse.F4 lin ked a n d cr own ed .

Reverse.D.O.C.
lin ke d a n d cr own ed .

W e i g h t 13A gr s.

8. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.A m o n o gr a m co n s is t in g of F 4 cr own ed .
Reverse.T.B.
in m o n o gr a m = ( Tr a n q u e b a r ) .
Christian

VI.,

A.D.

17 3 0 - 17 4 6

1. Silve r . 2 fan os d a t e d 173 1.

2. S i l ve r . I fan os d a t ed

173 1.

3. Co p p e r .
Obverse.C wit h 6 en closed , 17 on left, 30 on r igh t = 1730 .
Reverse.The
N o r we gia n lion . W e i g h t
a n d 19 gr s.
Ot h e r d a t e 173 2 .
4 . Co p p e r . 1 ca sh .
Obverse.C wit h 6 en closed , cr own ed .
Reverse.D.A.C.
( D a n s k As ia t is k Co m p a g n i )
W e i g h t 12 J gr s.

lin ke d

and

cr o wn e d .

5- Co p p e r . 1 cash .
Obverse.C wit h 6 e n clo s e d .
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked . W e i g h t 10 a n d \ 2\ gr s.
6 . Co p p e r . 2 ca sh .
Obverse.C wit h 6 en clos ed , cr o wn e d .
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed 2 b elow.

W e i g h t 2 3 ! gr s.

7- Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.-As
Reverse.As

N o . 6.
N o . 6, b u t 4 b elow.

W e i g h t 4 0 J gr s.

8. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.As
Reverse.As

N o . 7, b u t C6 r ever sed b y m is t a ke .
N o . 7. W e i g h t 34 gr s.

9. Cop p er .-1 cash .

Obverse.C wit h 6 en clos ed , cr own ed .
Reverse.T.B.
in m o n o gr a m ( = Tr a n q u e b a r ) .
lQ

W e i g h t 17gr s .

. Co p p e r . 1 ca sh .
Obverse.C wit h 6 en closed , cr own ed , d a t e 173 2 .
Reverse.As
N o . 9.

yxv
zy
zyxwvuts
of

Frederick
x.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

V., A.D.

the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

393

17 4 6 - 17 6 6

Silve r . 2 r oya lin s, d a t ed 1755, 1756 .

Si lve r . 1 r oya lin , d a t e d 1755, 1756 , 176 2 , 176 5, 176 6 .
Silve r . 2 d u ca t s, d a t e d 174 6 .
Si lve r . 1 d u ca t , d a t ed 174 6 .
Silve r .P ia s t e r , d a t ed 174 9 .
Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.F5 lin ked a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed , 17 on left, 6 1 on r igh t , 4 b elow.
W e i g h t 3 6 J gr s .
Ot h e r d a t e 17- 6 3 .
7. Co p p e r . 1 ca sh .
Obverse.As N o. 6.
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed . 1 b elow. W e i g h t 9-5- gr s.

zyx

Christian

VII.,

A.D. 17 6 6 - 18 0 8

1. Go ld p a go d a .
Obverse.C wit h 7 en closed on a gr a n u la t e d su r face, cr own ed .
Reverse.Figure
of a d e it y as on t h e Ch a n d r a gir i p a god a .
2. Silve r . 1 r oya lin = r u p ee.
Obverse.C wit h 7 en closed , cr own ed .
Reverse.Danish
a r m s : 17 on left, 73 on r igh t = 1773 .
R O YA L I N
a b ove. W e i gh t 20 a n d 20 J gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 1775, 1776 , 178 0 , 178 1, 178 6 , 178 8 , 179 2.
3. Silve r .2 r oya lin s = \ r u p ee.
Obverse.As N o . 2.
Reverse.Danish
a r m s ; 17 on left, 74 on r igh t = 1774 . 2 R O Y A L I N E R
a b ove. W e i gh t 40 gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 1775, 1776 , 178 1, 178 7, 179 6 , 18 0 7.
4. Co p p e r . 1 cash .
Obverse.C wit h 7 en closed , cr own ed .
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed , 17 on left, a n d 6 - on r igh t
= 176 , 1 b elow. W e i g h t 9 gr s.
Ot h er d a t es 1777, 178 0 .
5. Co p p e r . 2 cash .
Obverse.As N o . 4.
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ked a n d cr own ed , 17 on left, 6 7 on r igh t = 176 7,
2 b elow.

W e i gh t I 7 f gr s.

Ot h e r d a t es 1770 , 178 0 .

39

zyxwvutsrq
zy
zyxwvuts
The

Dominions,

Emblems,

and

Coins

6. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .

Obverse.As N o . 4.
Reverse.As
N o . 5, b u t 4 b elow. W e i g h t 3 6 ^ g r s .
O t h e r d a t e s 1768 , 1770 , 1771, 1777. 18 0 0 .

7- Co p p e r . 10 ca sh .
Obverse.CC lin ke d a n d cr own ed .
Reverse.D.A.C.
lin ke d a n d cr o w n e d ; b e lo w it X K A S . A ( An n o )
176 8 . W e i g h t 8 9 ! a n d 9 8 I gr s.
Ot h e r d a t e s 1770 , 1772 , 1777.
8. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.C wit h 7 en closed , cr own ed .
Reverse I V | K A S | 178 2. W e i g h t 37 gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 178 0 , 178 8 , 1790 , 179 7, 180 0 , 18 0 7.
9. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.As N o . 8.
Reverse [ I V] | K A S | 178 6 | R. (in it ia l of D a n is h officer is s u in g t h e
coin ).

W e i g h t 32 gr s.

10 . Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.As
Reverse.VI

N o . 8.
in st ea d of I V b y m ist a ke, [ i7] 8 2 .

W e i g h t 39 gr s.

- 11. Co p p e r . 10 ca sh .
Obverse.As N o . 8.
Reverse.X
| K A S | 178 2. W e i g h t 98 J gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 178 6, 178 8 , 1790 .

Frederick

VI., A.D. 18 0 8 - 18 3 9

N o coins were issued during the British occupation of 18 0 8 -14.

1. Si lve r . F a n o , d a t ed 18 16 , 18 18 .

W e i g h t 35 gr s.

2. Si lve r . 2 fan o, d a t e d 18 16 .
3. Co p p e r . 1 ca sh .
Obverse.The k in g's m o n o gr a m F R , cr o wn e d .
Reverse.
1- | K A S | 18 19 . W e i g h t 9 ! gr s.

V I b elow.

4. Co p p e r . 4 ca sh .
Obverse.As N o . 3.
Reverse I V- | K A S | 18 15. W e i g h t 38 gr s.
Ot h e r d a t e s 18 16 , 18 17, 18 20 , 18 22, 18 23, 18 24, 18 30 , 18 3 1,
18 32, 18 33, 18 35, 18 36, 18 37, 18 38 , 18 39.

of
5. Co p p e r . 10 cash .

yxv
zy
zyxwvutsr
the

South

Indian

Dynasties.

39

Obverse.As N o. 3.
Reverse.
X- | K A S | 18 16. W e igh t 9 4 ! gr s.
Ot h er d a t es 18 22, 18 38 , 18 39.

Christian

VIII.,

A.D.

18 39 -18 48

1. Co p p e r . 4 cash .
Obverse.The kin g's m o n o gr a m CR , cr o wn e d ; VI I I b elow.
Reverse.
I V- | K A S | 1840 . W e igh t 3 9 ^ - gr s.
Ot h e r d a t es 18 39, 18 4 1, 18 42, 18 43, 18 44, 18 45.
2. Co p p e r . 10 cash .
Obverse.As N o. 1.
Reverse.-It- | K A S | 18 42.

For Indo-Danish coins see Ran ga Chari's " In do-Dan ish Coin s,"
Madr. Jr. of Lit. and Sc., 1890 ; Dr . Hultzsch, " Dan ish Coins from
Tran quebar, Ind. Ant., May, 1893 ; British
Num ism atic
Journal,
1908, vol. v, p. 344.

5.

The

British.

Th e En glish East India Com pan y was founded in 1599 with a

purely commercial aim. For 150 years the Com pan y confined itself
to exten din g trade, but the difficulties of protectin g their commerce
forced them to arm in defence of their factories.
Th e En glish
established them selves at Kalikut and Cran gan ur in 1616 and
Tellich erry afterwards becam e their chief emporium on the west coast.
Th e Portuguese retired to Goa and the Dutch to the Spice Islands.
Th e nucleus of Madras city was erected in 1639. After the defeat of
the Fren ch in 1760, the British waged four successive wars with the
Muhammadan usurpers of Maisur, the most formidable antagonists
they had ever encountered in India.
After the death of Tip u at
Serin gapatam , the British had to m eet the local chieftains, who lon g
clung to their independence after their country was ceded to the East
India Com pany. Sin ce the final destruction of the predatory armies
of the Pindarees in 18 17-18 , Southern India has enjoyed, with little

396 zyxwvutsrqponmlkihgfedcbaWTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
The Dominions,
etc., of the South

Indian

Dynasties.

exception , a condition of internal peace such as had n ever been

approached in any period of its previous history.
For the coin age of the Ea st India Com pan y, see Th u r ston 's zyxwvutsrq
History

of the Coinage

vol. v of this

of the East

India

Com pany ,

M a d r a s , 18 9 0 ,

and

Journal.

For much of the foregoin g information I am in debted to Sir W.

Elliot's Coins of Southern
India;
Dr . H ultzsch 's num erous contributions to the Indian Antiquary
and J.R.A.S.;
Capt. Tufnell's
Hints to Coin Collectors in Southern
India ; Dr . Bidie's " Pagod a Coin s
of Sou t h I n d ia ," J.R.A.S.,

18 8 3 ; th e R e v. E . Lo ve n t h a l's Coins of

H awkes' Coins of My sore;

Ran ga Chari's " In do-Dan ish
Coin s," Mad. Jr. of Lit. and Sc., 18 90 ; Dr . Taylor 's and Dr .
Codrin gton 's publications, and Murray's Handbook of Madras, 1879.
Tinnevelly ;

R E VI E W S . zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLK
Italo-Greek

A. W. H an ds.
net.

Coins

of

Southern

Italy .

Spin k and Son , Ltd., Lon don .

By

the

Re v.

Five shillings

Th is volum e is the third of a series on Greek coins which we owe

to the genius and industry of Mr. H an ds. In his two former volum es
the author struck new ground, not, of course, in the area he covered,
but in the manner of his pilgrim age through it, and his avoidance of
the usual dry path. Of the period treated in this volume the ground,
so far, has been covered only by Sam bon and the British Museum
Catalogues. But in the latter, especially, no details whatever of the
history of the coin age are dealt with, and beyond these works one
must seek far and wide for such information within the scope of
numismatics. Mr. H an ds, however, is rich in classical lore, for no
fewer than thirty-eight authors are quoted and he lights up the dark
corners of history, revealin g their hidden treasures. For the comfort
of those whose Gr eek and Latin are rather rusty we may add that the
quotations are translated. Am on gst other coins described are those of
Acerrae, Atella, Caiatia, Calatia, Cales, Capua, Com pulteria, Nola,
H yria, Fensernia, Nuceria Alfaterna, Phistelia, Suessa, Tean um
Sidicinum , Rom ano-Cam panian Coins, Apulia, Arpi, Ausculum,
Calabria, Barium, Butuntum, Caelia, Canusium, H yria or Urium,
Luceria, Mateola, Neapolis of Apulia, Rubi, Sam adi, Teate, Venusia,
Calabria, Baletium, Brundusium, Graxa, H yr ia or Orra, Neretum ,
Sturnium, Uxen tum , Lucan ia and the Bruttii, etc.
Th e coins are
described and are gen erally illustrated, bein g prefaced in each instance
with in terestin gon e m ay almost say chattyaccoun ts of the places to
which they belong.
Th er e is a very useful chapter on " the six
different pounds of Italy," which is a restim e of Dr. Haeberlin's

398 zyxwvutsrqponmlkihgfedcbaWTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
Review s. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLK
Die

Metrologischen

Grundlagen

der

alt est en

Mittelitahschen

Miinz-

sy stem e,zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
and the Gen eral In dex and In dex of Typ es add m aterially

to the practical usefulness of the book. Th er e is certainly nothing

cheaper, and there is probably nothing more useful as an introduction
to the numismatics of the Gr eek Colon ies of Italy than this work.

The

Coin

Ty pes of Im perial

translated by Em ily A. H an ds.

Eigh t shillings net.

By Com m . Fr. Gnecchi,

Spin k and Son , Ltd., Lon don .

Rom e.

Th e three or four volumes on Num ism atics by Com m . Fr . Gn ecchi

are well-known to all interested in that science who possess a kn owledge
of Italian.
Th r ou gh the pages of Messrs. Spin k's Num ism atic
Circular
the number of those indebted to his researches has been
largely increased, first by the translation in m onthly instalm ents of
Gn ecch i's " Monete Rom ano," since reprinted in one volum e as " Rom an
Coin s," and now by the publication in book form of a similar series of
articles on Roman coin types. Th is volum e is com plem entary to the
former. It comprises a number of short paragraphs on the various types
that occupy the reverses of the Imperial coinage. Th e book is divided
into three parts and deals first with "god s , dem i-gods and h e r o e s ";
this is followed by a description of each of the allegorical personifications
t o b e fou n d on t h e coin s : e.g., abundantia, aequitas, aeternitas,

uberitas,

etc. Th e various attributes of the divinities as used

upon the coins are noted, as also are the different combinations of the
personifications. Th e third part deals with such types as are connected
with the emperor for the time bein gsu ch as allocutions, congiaria,
departures and arrivals, happy events, the senate, the people, the army,
gam es, monuments, etc.
Th er e are twenty-eight pages of plates,
which abundantly illustrate the letterpress and handsom ely adorn the
book, and not least useful are the tables, which reveal at a glan ce the
types that are to be found in the issues of any em peror.

victoria,

virtus,

Review s. zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIH
The Num ism atist,zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
the monthly m agazine ot the Am erican
Num ism atic Association , 447A, State Street, Brooklyn.
Th is m agazine, which reaches nearly everyon e in the Un ited States
interested in numismatics has of late devoted attention to early Am erican
numismatic issues, more particularly those medals and coins which were
issued prior to the Revolution ary War . Of the early medals of this
series some are of a ver y interesting character. For exam ple, we cite
the Phipps-Albem arle series of m edals, an exten ded article concerning
which, fully illustrated, appeared in a recent issue of The
Num ism atist,
h avin g been written by the late Dr . W. T. R. Marvin,
of Boston, the former editor of The Am erican Journal
oj
Num ism atics.
Another medal, of Spanish issue, commemorates the capture
of Moro Castle, at H avan a, Cuba, by the British forces under Lor d
Albem arle and Adm iral Sir Geor ge Pocock, in 1762, part of whose
forces gathered at Staten Island, New Yor k, prior to the assault. The
Num ism atist,
however, seems to cover the entire field of numismatics,
and its subscription price, post paid, is $ i'75 yearly.

The

Provincial

Token-coinage

R. Dalton and S. H . H am er.

of the Eighteenth-century .

By

An y part, six shillings.

Th is work has now reached its fourth part, and its purpose is not
only to describe every token known to have been issued during the
period treated, but also to illustrate it by the autotype processan d
ver y excellen t the illustrations are. Th e authors may be congratulated
upon this new departure in token-num ism atics, and it is certainly an
advan ce upon an ythin g of the kind previously published.
Part I
contained an explan atory Introduction, and commenced treatin g the
subject under each county in its alphabetic order, from Bedford to
Cum berland.
Part II comprised Derbysh ire and Ken t.
Part I I I
continued Ken t and ended with Lincolnshire, whilst Part I V brings us
to Middlesex. Th e prom ise of the prospectus has been am ply fulfilled
and one may now safely assume that the whole work will m aintain its
position as a standard treatise of its subject.