Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed

Source: TH

Context: Over 100 gold coins from the Vijayanagara era were unearthed inside an earthen pot during restoration works at a Later Chola-period Shiva temple in Kovilur, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu.

About Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed:

What it is?

• A total of 103 punch-marked gold coins of varying sizes and shapes were discovered during excavation near the sanctum sanctorum of the Kovilur Shiva temple atop the Jawadhu Hills.

Discovery:

• Officials from the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSAD) and Revenue Department secured the site and transferred the coins to the district treasury under the provisions of the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878.

• The coins carry the boar emblem, a symbol of Vijayanagara royal authority, and are believed to be devotional offerings minted during the reigns of rulers such as Harihara II or Krishnadevaraya (14th–16th centuries CE).

• Archaeologists estimate the coins to be approximately 5 mm in size, made of pure gold, and possibly issued as temple endowments or donations.

About Numismatics of the Vijayanagara Empire:

Origin:

• The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE) was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I, inspired by the sage Vidyaranya, to defend Hindu kingdoms in South India.

• Its capital at Hampi became a major political, economic, and religious hub. The empire issued one of the most sophisticated monetary systems in medieval India.

Key Features of Vijayanagara Coinage:

• Metal Composition: Predominantly gold pagodas (gadyanas), half and quarter pagodas, along with silver taras and copper jitals. Gold was reserved for religious offerings and royal use.

Eg: Krishnadevaraya’s gold Balakrishna pagoda (3.3 gm) with Devanagari legend “Sri Pratapa Krishna Raya.”

• Artistic Imagery: Coins bore images of Hindu deities—Siva-Parvati (Uma-Maheshwara), Vishnu-Lakshmi, Balakrishna, or Gandaberunda (double-headed eagle)—reflecting royal devotion and temple culture.

• Legends and Language: Inscribed in Devanagari, Kannada, or Tamil, often featuring the ruler’s name and honorifics such as “Sri Pratapa” (valiant).

• Symbolism: The boar emblem (Varaha)—an avatar of Vishnu—was used as the state symbol on royal coins and seals, representing divine sanction to rule.

• Economic Role: Vijayanagara coinage served both as temple wealth and trade currency, circulating widely across South India, Sri Lanka, and the Indian Ocean trade routes.