My first acquisition of the year and a coin I've been searching for since 2019! I've never tried purchasing or bidding on a coin from a professional auction house, except for this particular type. Each attempt resulted in losing the coins, and retail hasn't been favorable either, often featuring overpriced examples of poor quality. While this type is not uncommon, it is extremely rare to come across one with a nice strike and full details on the face since most of these issues are crudely and flatly struck. What's more special is finding it locally at a great price. What I find interesting about this coin are the dimensions, at 20mm weighing 4.28 grams, it's the same as an early Islamic gold dinar, who copied their coins from the light-weight solidi meant for circulation outside the Byzantine empire. It's noteworthy that the Cholas, being a thalassocratic empire, generated significant revenues not only through conquering other kingdoms but also by engaging in trade with the Arabs and Chinese. Their influence extended to the extent of invading the Sri Vijaya empire (modern-day Western Indonesia) for imposing heavy taxes on Tamil Chola merchant ships. Shows you how the world was interconnected so much back in the day! On to the coin! Anonymous gold Kahavanu from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Type III-B 20 mm, 4.28 g Period of Chola invasion (970-1070 AD) Obverse: The depiction showcases a standing king facing right, adorned with a pointed crown. The king holds a lotus in his right hand and points at the Shrivatsa symbol with his left hand. A degenerate coconut palm tree is situated on the far left. The king is attired in a wavy Dhoti, characterized by two curved lines on either side and one line in between the legs, resembling tentacles and earning the moniker 'octopus man.' The king stands on a lotus plant stalk with a small circle in the center, concluding on the left in a conch shell and featuring a lotus bud on the right. Five pellets to the right, their significance remains mystery. Reverse: Seated king facing right, with his left hand resting on his left leg and his right hand holding a conch shell. His right leg rests on a couch or bed-like throne known as asana. On the right side of the field, a Devanagari legend is inscribed in three lines, reading Sri Lan Ka Vi Ha. In these coins, Viha denotes the value, equivalent to 20 Silver Massas. Note: Despite common attributions identifying it as Sri Lan Ka Vi Bhu, a closer examination reveals the last letter to be Ha. This distinction becomes apparent when comparing the final letter with early Type-I issues or coins from SaHAsamalla or ParakramaBAHU. Additionally, in these anonymous gold coins, there is an absence of Bha that could combine to form the letter Bhu. Following the letter Vi, only Ha is present. Reference: https://sirimunasiha.wordpress.com/about/the-script-on-medieveal-coins-of-sri-lanka/ Here's my copper massa of Raja Raja Chola for size comparison. Please share your Chola or Sri-Lankan coins!
Nice pickup! I have 8 of these/ some fractions. Here is a 1/8 Kahavuna or aka Heritage description Anonymous/ Chola period / 980-1070AD Is this correct? John
I don't have any or know anything at all about Chola, Sri Lankan or similar coins (closest I have are Kushan/Baktrian), so I'm just here to say: Congratulations, wonderful coins, all of those shown! (Also, @JayAg47 , I think you've posted some of the Sri Lankan "Fallen Horseman" imitations. I collect Fallen Horsemen, so I love those ones -- have seen a few for sale, but not yet pulled the trigger.) From the descriptions, I see that the figure is standing (presumably standing still, and seated on the reverse). But I love that coin gives the illusion of motion. Especially seeing these 2 or 3 lined up, I can almost see the arms moving up and down in a wave motion. As with certain Celtic coins, someone who is new to this artistic style might first be struck by the contrast with Greco-Roman realism, and simply think they are crude. But the artistic goals were different. For Celts, those goals included representing many different naturalistic elements, hidden symbols, and multiple perspectives within the same design. I don't yet know what the artistic goals here would've been, but I wonder if they include conveying motion and change, and combining the script (and/or tamgas) with representations of physical objects. (As you say, they're a seafaring people, so perhaps the ocean waves and shifting sands of the beaches are reflected in the artistic style?)
I can definitely see what you mean! the palm tree, lotus buds and conch shell only adds to the picture of a tropical island that is Sri Lanka. In fact some references say the king is actually standing on a catamaran and not a lotus stalk, maybe the king is taking a short ride on a lotus pond sniffing a lotus bud? I've always felt the attribution of the king standing on the plant itself to be silly!
Great group shot! I wonder why those silver issues are much much rarer, in fact I've never seen one for sale ever since I've started collecting these coins. However I managed to get this silver type that commemorates the subjugation of the Cheras and Pandyas.
Thats the first silver of the type I got, the Uttama Chola... I managed to score this one a silver of the later Ceylon king Vijyabahu I. I have only seen two coins for sale I managed to be lucky and score them both good luck my friend.
