What is the study of Coins called and why do we need to study them?

Numismatics is the study or collection of coins, banknotes, and other forms of currency or related items. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines elements of history, archaeology, economics, and art. Numismatists, the individuals who practice numismatics, examine and analyze various aspects of currency, such as their design, production techniques, historical context, and cultural significance.

Knowing about old coins serves several purposes and can be valuable for various reasons:

Celebrating National Youth Day

National Youth Day is celebrated in India on 12 January on the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. In 1984 the Government of India declared the day as the National Youth Day and since 1985 the event is celebrated in India every year.

Happy New Year 2016

Ramayana series Coins of Raghunatha Nayak

Rama is regarded as the seventh avatara of Lord Vishnu and Ramayana is regarded as one of the greatest works of Indian Literature.

Tanjore king Raghunata Nayaka (1600-1634 AD) was a great devotee of Sri Rama. There is a story that once the king ordered to dig a tank in Darasuram and the idols of Rama and Sita were found here. Inspired by discovery, the king ordered to his minister Govinda Dikshitar to build three temples of Rama in three places - Kumbakonam, Srirangam and Rama Sethu.

Following is the Ramayana series coins set with image of king Raghunatha Nayaka in Anjali Mudra position on the Reverse.

Lord Ganesha on Ancient coins

Lord Ganesha is a popular figure in Indian art and crafts. Numismatics is no exception.

Ganesha is one of the most popular gods of Hinduism. Ganesha means lord of the ganas. Ganesha occupies an important place in Vedic rites and rituals. Without him no sacrifice is supposed to be complete.

Vijayanagara Devaraya II Rayagajagandabherunda Coins

Deva Raya II (r. 1424–1446 CE) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. The greatest of the Sangama dynasty rulers, he was an able administrator, an ambitious warrior.

The Meaning of ‘Raya gaja ganda berunda’ - The double-headed eagle which splits the temples of troops of elephants.

Madurai Nayaks 'Ramana' coin

Obv1: Hanuma towards left, surrounded with a decorated arch

Obv2: Garuda in standing posture, surrounded with a decorated arch.

Rev: Ra ma / na in Tamil (ரமண)

Thirumalaraya Coins of Vijayanagara Kingdom

Coins with legend read as sri tirumalaraja, tirumalraju, ralava tirumalaraja were assigned by various authors to Tirumalaraya of Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagar Kingdom.

Following are my collection of the same with details:

Assam Rajesvara Simha Gold Mohur

Assam, Rajesvara Simha, Gold Mohur, 11.39g, Saka 1678, AD 1756

Obv: Within dotted border, lion below: Sri Sri Swargdeo Sri Rajeshwara Simha Nripsya Sake 1678 (God of Heaven, King Rajesvara Simha, Saka Year 1678)

Rev: Within dotted border: Sri Sri Hara Gauri Charana Kamala Makaranda Madhukarasya (A bee on the nectar of the lotus on the feet of Goddess Gouri or Gauri i.e. Goddess Parvati).

Coins of Banavasi

Banavasi (Kannada: ಬನವಾಸಿ) also known as Konkanapura is an ancient temple town in Uttara Kannada District bordering Shivamogga district in the South Indian state of Karnataka .Huen Tsang the Chinese traveler-monk who was in India between 630-644 C.E, visited Konkanapura called Konkanapulo(referred in Chinese scripts)or Banavasi.

Sri Mangamma Coins of Madurai

Venkatappa coins

The Venkatappa and single Kannada/Telugu letter “Ve” (First letter of Venkatappa) are highly prevalent in Madurai, Tanjavur and Gingee Provinces. The coins might have minted for Venkata-II by the nayakas.

                                              Picture Courtesy: Sri Raman Sankaran 

Srivira Coins of Madurai

There are vast number of varieties in “Sri Vira” (శ్రీ విర) coins. Here are some of them.

This post will be updated frequently. As and when I add a new variety to my collection I will update this blog post.

Madurai nayaks have issued these coins only in Telugu language

The Feudatory Coins of Hyderabad State

The Hyderabad State has largely been presented as having a sole center of power, dominated by the Nizam, his minister, and a handful of British officials. However, this impression is misleading. In fact, the state had multiple centers of power and multiple participants who negotiated their power within the state. Amongst those participants dotting the countryside were the capitals of the samasthan (Hindu kingdoms) kings whose origins predated the arrival of Muslim rule in the Deccan.

Following are some of my feudatory coin collection of Hyderabad state:

Meghavahana Dynasty

The Mahameghavahana dynasty (250s BC to 400s AD) was an ancient ruling dynasty of Kalinga after the decline of the Mauryan Empire. The third ruler of the dynasty, Kharavela, conquered much of India in a series of campaigns at the beginning of the Common Era.

Uttama Chola Silver Kahavanu Coin

Chola (300s BC–1279 AD)

The Cholas formed the Tamil dynasty governing varying territories and perhaps the longest spanning dynasty from 3rd century BC to 13th century.  They were known for  marvelous architecture and outstanding metal works which stand a testimony to this day of their legacy.

Sri Krishnadevaraya Gold Pagoda - Bala Krishna type

This coin was minted probably in 1513 AD to commemorate and celebrate the conquest of the eastern Gajapati kingdom of Udayagiri or Utkala (in the present day Kalinga of Orissa state) then ruled by Pratapa Rudra Deva. It is said that following this victory, Krishnadevaraya seized the idol of Balakrishna (Lord Krishna as infant) and brought it to Vijayanagar as a war trophy. He then built the Krishna Temple at Hampi where the idol was then consecrated. The idol is now displayed in the state museum at Chennai and a huge slab installed inside the courtyard of the temple states the story of this temple and the conquest of Utkala.

Obverse: Crowned and ornamented cute Balakrishna, potbellied, seated on a dotted bordered dais with right leg folded, discus to right, conch to left, holding a lump of butter in right hand.

Coins Depicting Lord Shiva - The Antelope Attribute

Shiva takes on several manifestations. Each manifestation accompanies a myth that explains his form and attributes present with each form. Apart from Shiva’s typical damaru (kettledrum), trishula (trident) and parashu (axe), the antelope (mriga) is seen in several avatars (manifestations) of Shiva. In the Asian Civilizations Museum’s late Chola bronze Somaskanda, Shiva is seen holding an antelope in his left hand.  

Coins of Thanjavur Maratha kingdom

Thanjavur Marathas of the Bhonsle dynasty were the rulers of Thanjavur principality of Tamil Nadu between the 17th to the 19th century C.E. Their native language was Marathi. Venkoji was the founder of the dynasty. He is the younger brother of the first Maratha emperor, Shivaji Maharaj (although some sources claim him as the son of the emperor). He began the Thanjavur, or Tanjore, dynasty which ruled the state until 1855.

Mostly the Thanjavur marathas issued coins in Devanagari legend and also a few coins with tamil legend. The coins with Tamil legend are rare and very few coins of this variety were published so far.

Coins of Thanjavur Maratha kingdom

Coins of Banas Dynasty

The Banas Kings controlled much of Madurai, Ramanathapuram and some parts of Kongu regions from 14th to middle of 16th century their epigraphs are found in regions of Madurai, Ramnad and Pudukottai. From the inscriptions, it appears that Irangavillidasan Navali Vanaraya Bana, Bhuvaneka Vira Samara Kolahala, Sundar Tol-udaiyan, Tirumal Irunjolai Mahabali Bana were the chiefs at Madurai as well as Ramnad.

They minted coins from Madurai with Garuda on the obverse and their title on the reverse. These coins bear two distinguishing titles Bhuvanekavira and Samarakola kalan. 

Following are different varieties of Banas coins