ceylon ca. 980-1214

Medieval - 500 AD to 1500 AD

Anonymous gold coinage circa 980 - 1070
The major portion of this coinage was issued in opposition to Chola issues of Rajaraja type. The series appears to have been initiated only shortly before the date when Rajaraja Chola invaded Ceylon and the coinage appears to have been struck through the period when the Cholas dominated the island (1017 - 1070). The series was then continued by closely similar coins struck for Vijaya-bahu (1055 - 1110) after he had re-establish Singhalese independance about 1070/71.

AU kahavanu d=19,5 mm, 4,35 gram. Obv.: King seated right with legend below his raised arm: SRI LAMKA VIBHU (The fortunate Lord of Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Rev.: Standing king with ancillary symbols. Mitchener 1979, 825
AU Pala (1/4 kahavanu) d= 13-13,2 mm, 0,98 gram. Obv.: Standing king with ancillary symbols Rev.: Stylised legend. Mitchener 1979, 827

AU Aka (1/8 kahavanu) d=10,5 mm, 0,50 gram
Obv.: Standing king with altar in front
Rev.: Legend below conch Daraka.
Mitchener 1979, 828-30

Restoration of Singhalese independance; the Polonnaruwa period AD 1070 - 1214

Parakramu Baha I 1153-1186 AE 1/8 Massa 0,51 gram, 10,5 mm Obv.: In bead line circle standing figure Rev.: In bead line circle under adhanda legend in three lines
Quin Lilavati 1197-1200 and 1209-10 and 1211 AE massa (Kahavanu), 4,07 gr, 20 mm Obv.: Standing king with ancillary symbols Rev.: Standing king with legend Sri Raja Lilavati Mitchener 1979, 837-9
Sahassa Malla 1200 - 1202. AE massa (kahavanu). 4,04 grams, 20,2 mm Obv.: Standing king with ancillary symbols Rev.: Standing king with legend SRI MA SAHASA MALLA Mitchener 1979, 840-41
Bhuvanaika Bahu 1273 - 1302 AE massa (kahavanu) d= 19,5 mm, 3,88 gr Obv.: Standing king with ancillary symbols Rev.: Standing king with legend SRI BHUVANAIKA BAHU Mitchener 1979, 850

Parakramu Bahu VI 1415 - 1468 (different years in the litterature!)
AE massa (kahavanu) 18,2-18,5 mm, 3,74 gr
Obv.: Standing king, in right hand a lamp. In the left hand a small ball. To the right a lion seated facing right.
Rev.: Standard design with the King and the legend SRI PA RA KRA MA BA HU
Codrington 97-100, Mitchener 1979, 853-55

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1467 - 1600 ?
Copper, 17,5-18 mm, 3,12 gr
Setu type
Obv.: Standing king, dotted border.
Rev.: Humped bull seated left, dot in cresent above and two dots behind the bull, below Setu. Dotted border.
Cfr. Codrington 94 and Mitchener 869-70

Litterature:
H.W.Codrington, Ceylon Coins and Currency, Colombo 1924
Mitchener, Oriental Coins and their Values, Non-Islamic States & Western Colonies AD 600 - 1979, London 1979

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