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Auction: 20125 - Spink Numismatic Circular 5 - Part 1 - Oriental Coins
Lot: 2414

South India, Chola Dynasty, Raja Raja (985-1014), AR Kahavanu, undated, on both sides a bow, seated tiger, and two fish, under an umbrella, flanked by lamps and chowries, Tamil legend below, gangaikonda / chola (the Chola who conquered the Ganges) (MSI II. 332-6), together with an AE Kasu of the same king, both very fine and better than average for type (2)

The images on this coin are very symbolic. The bow being the emblem of the Cheras, the fish of the Pandyas and the tiger the Cholas. Their configuration on this coin suggests that they had all been bought under the 'umbrella' of Chola rule at this time. The legend may indicate that Raja Raja had actually undertaken a 'victory tour' to the Ganges in order to bring back some holy water, or possibly be a reference to the Kaveri River that flows through the Chola heartland and was regarded by some as the Ganges of the South.

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Estimate

Starting price
£70