Dear Spence,
Thanks for the mail. Your coin is definitely "Rajaraja" Chola copper issue. Rajaraja ruled from 985-1014.AD. So far so good.
Rajaraja has other variety coins to his credit in gold and in silver, but copper coins are almost of this very same type. Though the Sreelankan version of this is called Kahavanu, Indian issues are generally called as "Kasu". The peculiar figure on these coins are derived from the Ceylon issues a little before Rajaraja invaded the island. Actually that was an interregnum by Sreelankan monarchs between two Chola occupation periods. Rajaraja adopted that for his copper issues in India and adapted with slight modification of the design like the crescent above the dots. Though we generally see five dots to the right of the sitting "Ceylon man" (as they are called by the Indian numismatists) and a crescent above, there are couns with five dots and crescent.
A few of the varieties are known for this type.
Conventional type with standing figure of the King with a lamp colloquially called "Kuthuviakku" on his right hand, a conch held to the mouth with the left hand and four dots with a crescent above and a conch below. There are a multitude of varieties within this design and some with different devices shown below the dots like lotus, foot called Vishnupaada meaning the foot print of Vishnu and somethimes without any device. There can be a fish on his right hand side or a stylised "kalvilakku" that symbolises temples. Foot can be large foot variety or small foot type. There can be another "flag-mast" like mark on some coins with small foot. This is about the symbols. There can be lots more in store to come to light.
Weight also is slightly different based on two standards. To quote from my WoC post, "Prof.Neelakanta Sastri who has given us one of the most descriptive pictures of the Cholas opines in his book "TheCholas", Vol.II, Part-I, quoting Codrington that copper coins of similar type must have been issued by later Cholas using the same "rajaraja" legend and other devices the same way used by Rajaraja himself and the symbols deteriorated over the years.(P.453-454). He states a few more relevant things-# 1). Two weight standards, the Gadyana system of ~50-60 grain weight Kalanju and another ~68-80 grains Kalanju were used during the Chola period, the latter being used more than the former. The second one is otherwise stated as 20 manjadi = a Kalanju,(P.443). #2). Kasu was a 10 manjadi coins in copper.(P.454). #3.)The copper coins of around 3.8-4.2 grams might have been double cash.(P454). #4). Ratio between gold and silver was one unit of .395 pure gold (9.5 mattu) equal to 8.66 units of silver.(P.451). #5). Kahavanu was the name of the gold and silver coins, but "Kasu" seems to the right term to use. (Oesho has supported this view for copper coins).
Anyhow, "rajaraja" legend has been used on gold, silver and copper coins of the Cholas. Since the same legend persisted, the beginning may be attributed to Rajaraja. The two weight standards are also well established. The degenerated coins must have been issued by the later Cholas of different names. So the mystery of same legend, weight standard and figures seen on coins of three metals still continues!"
Here we have to see that 1.)the ruling period of Rajaraja was from 985-1014.AD, 2.) we have lots and lots of varieties of Ceylon man type coins that shown degeneration of design over years that seems to be more than those thirty years,3.)though Chola Empire remained until late thirteenth century with rulers named "Rajendra", "Rajadhiraja" and "Kulothunga", copper coins showing their names are still to be found and 4.)Kulothunga-I who was the Great-grandson of Rajaraja who became the first "Chola-Chalukya" Emperor, his known coins bear the legend "Rajaraja" with a boar replacing the standing man. These multiple points have led numismatists to believe that "Ceylon-man" coins have been issued over a
long period beginning Rajaraja despite different names of the ruling Emperor. A few examples of the later varieties are there on pages seven, eight and nine of that WoC link. Hope I have not confused you!
I will highlight some of them here for ready reference.
A large foot variety can be seen here
http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/in...=90625;imageA small foot variety is here
http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/in...=95625;imageA small foot variety with fish and flag-mast is here
http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/in...=95626;imageFinally, to put all these things in a nutshell, a "Rajaraja" copper coin could have been an issue of any date from nearly 1000.AD to 1275.AD!
Posted 12/26/2019 05:46 am
