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]