Sinhala Coins up to Parakrmabahu IV of Kotte

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 Animals Fish Dipa / Lamp Srivatsa / Swastika Pot 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 Ran In Bead Circle 8 symbols Standing Figure Adahanda or Crescent Moon 2 Dipa or lamps Srivatsa 4 x Golas Sanka or Chank Bo Ankula Lotus Stalk

Named after the Auspicious symbol in left hand 2 Symbols 8/10/12/14 Compartment Asana

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 Obverse 7 x Symbols Jayabahu Vijayaba I Reverse – 2 symbols The name of Country/ Value is replaced by the name of Issuer a King

Pollonaruva Period-11/12 Cent AD Obv-6 Symbols Rev- 1 Symbol Parakramabahu I Dhrammasokedeva Obverse – 6 Symbols Reverse -1 or 2 Symbols

The Dambedeniya Period Coins-13 Cent AD Parakramabahu III Obv-6 Symbols Vijayaba II Rev- 1 Symbol Bhuvanakabahu I Parakramabhu

Parakramabhu VI [15 Cent AD] Object in Hand Chank 3 Dots Srivatsa Hanging Lamp with Dots Lotus stalk off Flan Lion

Srivatsa and other mangala symbols 15 cent AD 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

Number of Mangala Symbols Type Obverse Reverse Kalanda of gold Type I 8 2 Kalanda of Gold Type II 7 2 Kalandas of Gold Type III 7/8 2 Vijayaba I to Jayaba/Parkramaba I 7 2 Nissankamalle to Buvenaikaba I 6 2 Parkaramabahu VI 6? plus Lion 2 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 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]