Sri Lanka

Gold Kahavanu

Item number: A170

Year: 10th-12th centuries

Material: Gold

Size: 20 x 20 mm / thick: 0.2~1.2 mm

Weight: 4.31 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This gold coin is a currency known as Kahavanu issued in Sri Lanka.

The obverse of the coin depicts a standing figure facing right, with the left hand holding a flower (lotus or jasmine) in front of the face. The left half of the coin features the ancient religious symbol Shrivatsa, while the right half displays five spheres.

On the reverse side, a similarly right-facing figure is depicted on the left side of the coin, seated on a throne-like pedestal, with the left hand holding a conch shell. On the right side of the coin, there is an inscription in the Devanagari script “Sri Lamka Vibhu”, which means mighty lord of Sri Lanka. Due to the absence of inscriptions denoting the year of minting or the reigning monarch, it remains undetermined which ruler issued this coin during their reign.

The circulation of the currency known as “Kahavanu” spanned the entire period of the Chola Dynasty‘s rule over Sri Lanka. It is believed that this currency began to be minted shortly before the Chola Dynasty’s invasion of Sri Lanka. This particular gold coin may have been issued shortly before the Chola Dynasty’s occupation of Sri Lanka or during its period of rule.

^{The Kahavanu:
Kahavanu was a medieval currency circulated in Sri Lanka from approximately the 10th to the 12th centuries, yet its exact origin and minting period remain uncertain. The obverse of the coin features a standing figure facing right, holding an object in hand (the object varies in different versions), with an indeterminate number of spheres depicted on the right side. On the reverse side, a similarly right-facing figure is portrayed seated on a throne, with the left hand curved to hold an object, while the right side bears inscriptions in the Devanagari script, the content of which varies. Due to the distinctive linear depiction of the figures on the coin, the Kahavanu is sometimes referred to as the “Octopus Man Coin.”}

^{The Shrivatsa:
Shrivatsa is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, typically depicted as a knot or emblem on the chests of deities such as Vishnu and Krishna. It is regarded as an extremely auspicious symbol. In Hinduism, the Shrivatsa holds significant religious and cultural significance, revered by devotees as a symbol of divine grace and protection. This symbol typically manifests as a spiral or a series of interlocking loops resembling a flower or a knot, symbolizing auspiciousness, prosperity, and eternity.}

^{The Chola dynasty:
The Chola dynasty, originating from the ancient kingdom in the Tamil region of South India, had a history dating back to the Sangam poetry era. Its origins lied in the fertile Cauvery River valley, with its capital at Uraiyur (present-day Tiruchirappalli). Renowned for its efficient taxation system, village autonomy, and irrigation techniques, the Chola dynasty fostered economic prosperity and cultural advancement. The dynasty left a profound impact on South India, making significant contributions to the Tamil cultural heritage.}

^{The expansion of the Chola dynasty bore witness to its growth as a dominant power in South India. Originating from the Cauvery River valley, it gradually occupied the territory of the Pallavas. Around AD 850 to 870, the dynasty expanded into the Chola region, subsequently unifying the territories of the Cholas and the Pandyas.}

^{Rajaraja Chola I (AD 985-1014) successfully occupied Gangavadi and Kerala, establishing a strong ruling presence in northern Sri Lanka. Subsequently, Rajendra Chola I (AD 1014-1044) conquered the Malay Peninsula, the Malay Archipelago, and the entire island of Sri Lanka.}

^{However, the dynasty also faced challenges, as wars with the Chalukya Empire resulted in losses. With external interference and internal conflicts intensifying, the Chola kingdom collapsed in AD 1279.}

斯里蘭卡

黃金卡哈瓦努

物件編號: A170

年代: 公元 10-12 世紀

尺寸: 20 x 20 mm / thick: 0.2~1.2 mm

重量: 4.31 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

此枚金幣為發行於斯里蘭卡的黃金卡哈瓦努貨幣。

硬幣正面為站立且頭朝右的人像，左手在臉部前方持有一朵花(蓮花或茉莉花)，錢幣的左半部分刻有古老的宗教符號 Shrivatsa，右半部分則有五個圓球。 

背面為同樣頭部朝右的人物位於錢幣左側，坐在床狀寶座上，左手持有貝殼，錢幣右側有以天城文刻的銘文「 Sri Lamka Vibhu 」，意為偉大的斯里蘭卡君主。由於這枚錢幣沒有標示鑄造的年份或君主，無法斷定是哪位統治者在位期間所發行。 

卡哈瓦努這種貨幣的流通貫穿了朱羅王朝統治斯里蘭卡的整個時期。據傳，這種貨幣是在朱羅王朝入侵斯里蘭卡之前不久開始鑄造的。這枚金幣可能是在朱羅王朝佔領斯里蘭卡之前不久發行的，或者是在朱羅王朝統治期間發行的。 

^{卡哈瓦努:
卡哈瓦努是公元約10世紀至12世紀在斯里蘭卡流通的一種貨幣，這種貨幣的確切起源、鑄造的時間仍無法得知，錢幣正面為站立的人物頭朝右，手中拿有物品(不同版本手持不同物品)，右側有不定數量的圓球。錢幣背面則是同樣頭朝右的人物坐於寶座上，左手彎曲持有物體，右側則有天城文文字，內容不定。卡哈瓦努也因其描繪人物的特殊線條形式，有時被稱作章魚人錢幣。} 

^{The Shrivatsa:
Shrivatsa是印度教中的一個神聖符號，一般被描繪為毗濕奴和黑天等神祇胸前的一個結或標誌。它被視為極為吉祥的象徵，在宗教藝術和圖像中廣泛描繪。Shrivatsa在印度教中擁有重要的宗教和文化意義，被信徒尊為神聖恩典和保護的象徵。這個符號通常呈現螺旋形或一系列交錯的環的形式，類似花朵或結，象徵著吉祥、繁榮和永恆。}

^{朱羅王朝:
朱羅王朝，源自南印度泰米爾地區的古王國，歷史可追溯至桑迦姆詩歌時代。其起源地在肥沃的高韋里河谷（Cauvery），首都烏拉伊約爾（今特里凡得琅）。朱羅王朝以高效的稅收制度、村莊自治和灌溉技術聞名，推動了經濟繁榮和文化進步。王朝在南印度留下深遠影響，對泰米爾文化遺產做出重要貢獻。} 

^{朱羅王朝擴張見證了其作為南印度強權的成長。從高韋里河谷出發，逐漸佔領帕拉瓦斯領土。約公元850至870年，王朝擴張至朱羅地區；而後統一了朱羅和潘地亞人的領土。} 

^{羅查羅乍一世（公元985-1014年）成功佔領岡格阿瓦蒂和喀拉拉邦，並在北斯里蘭卡建立強大統治地位。接著，羅貞陀羅一世（公元1014-1044年）征服馬來半島、馬來群島和整個斯里蘭卡。} 

^{然而，王朝也面臨挑戰，與遮婁其王朝的戰爭使其遭受損失，隨著外部干擾和內部紛爭，朱羅王國於公元1279年滅亡。} 

類似/相同物件 請看:

英國 大英博物館 The British Museum

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1886-0803-15

澳洲 動力博物館 Powerhouse Museum

https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/308141

更多相關訊息請參考:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chola-dynasty

https://coins.lakdiva.org.lk/medievalgold/k1cf4t10c_irasanda_au.html

https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shrivatsa