Sinhala Coins up to Parakrmabahu IV of Kotte.
Siri Munasinghe
Were any Standards adopted in minting of Ancient Sri Lanka Coins.• How did our kings who issued coins
ensure that they were accepted by the people?.
• What symbols or inscription did they place on the metal discs to to achive above?.
• Was these Standards in compliance with the now Western accepted concept of coins?
Why are Coins issued accepted as a means of exchange?
• a. Name of issuing Authority, Name of Country or / and. Name of Currency and or its value.
Expressed as an Inscription/Numeral
b. Accepted Royal Emblem , a Design or Symbol which
was identified with the Ruler / Issuer of the Coin
Human Figures/Animals/ Symbols/etc
These symbols was easily identified and special to the people of Sri Lanka in the period of issue .
Why so or their meaning is now lost to us.
Some coins with Name of Issuer on Coin found in the country in our ancient script.
Pre 300 BC
Coins with Name of Issuer and value in ancient Sinhala script
Basically around a Railed Swastika-A Royal Emblem
SYMBOLS ON SRILANKAN COINS 200-700 AD
Srivatsa / Swastika
Dipa / Lamp
Pot
Animals
Fish
Sankha Sanda
3 x Lines
Lamps/ Sanka/ Sanda etc introduced
CEYLON TYPE COINS
• The coins are dated to the 8 Cent AD by the script and now known after the names found in the late Anuradhpura Inscription as
Kalan, De-aka and Aka of Gold.
Obverse Kalan RanIn Bead Circle
Standing Figure
Lotus Stalk
Sanka or Chank
Bo Ankula
Srivatsa
2 Dipa or lamps
4 x Golas
Adahanda or Crescent Moon
8 symbols
Named after the Auspicious symbol in left hand
8/10/12/14 Compartment Asana
2 Symbols
These Coins have the name of country and the
value/weight
Coins with Name of Country and Value- 8 Cent AD
Half Kalanda
De-aka
Is this Sri [La A] ka ???
Coins having the Name of Ruler who
issued them.Value was the
Gold/Silver and Copper Massas.
Polonnaruwa Period- 11 Cent AD
Vijayaba I Jayabahu
Obverse-
7 x Symbols
Reverse – 2 symbols
The name of Country/ Value is replaced by the name of Issuer a King
Pollonaruva Period-11/12 Cent AD
Dhrammasokedeva
Parakramabahu I
Obverse – 6 SymbolsReverse -1or2 Symbols
Obv-6 Symbols
Rev- 1 Symbol
The Dambedeniya Period Coins-13 Cent AD
Obv-6 Symbols
Rev- 1 SymbolParakramabahu III Vijayaba II
Parakramabhu Bhuvanakabahu I
Parakramabhu VI [15 Cent AD]
Srivatsa
Hanging Lamp with Dots
Lion
3 Dots
Chank
Object in Hand
Lotus stalk off Flan
The perversion continues under the Chola’s and end up in a mere collection of lines and dots Vira raya faman and copper issues of Dutch Negapatnam. HW Codrington
15 cent AD
Srivatsa and other mangala symbols
Type Obverse Reverse Kalanda of gold Type I 8 2Kalanda of Gold Type II 7 2Kalandas of Gold Type III 7/8 2Vijayaba I to Jayaba/Parkramaba I 7 2Nissankamalle to Buvenaikaba I 6 2
Parkaramabahu VI 6? plus Lion 2
Number of Mangala Symbols
a. 8 symbols - a graphic representation of a Astamangala’s?
b. 7 symbol Did it represent few of the treasures of a Universal king?.
.
Conclusions
• It has the name of the Country Sri Lan Ka• It had a Value marked .Viha- 20 silvers to this Gold Kalan• Standing figure on Lotus stalk and Seated figure was on our ancient
Coins.• Was a prestigious set as was adopted and accepted for over 700
years. Found in India and Africa. A trade Coins of the Indian Ocean – replaced the Roman Solidus of the same weight and Gold value?
• The later Kings adopted same design with their name replacing the Nation and Value. The Cola kings, Jaffna Kings ,
• A group of symbol well known to the people of the period period as astamangalika .or any other or just for decorative purposes or both………?.
• The design seems to have its origins in the ancient coins of Sri Lanka A new set of symbols replacing the Swastika Set [ Prior to 200 AD], with a set of new symbols around the Srivatsa.
• The lamps has it origins from the set of coins [300-600 AD]