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Home , Deva Raya, Harihara I, Saluva Dynasty, Vijayanagara

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Coinage of Empire.

Rekha HG Assistant Professor of History, Government First Grade College, Vijayanagara 104.

Abstract: Establishment of in used to mark their legends. Prevailing language and 1336 AD contributed to the growth of a new phase alphabets were used to mint coins. Weights of the in the development of coinage. Progenitors of the coins and the metal content exhibited their Vijayanagara Empire I and Bukka I had prosperity. Rulers had expressed clear relation the coins of Sevunas, Kakatiyas and later Pandyas between power and coinage.. Coins are of immense as their model. Of these four kingdoms, Hoysalas value as much as they throw flood of lights on the were nearest to Vijayanagara Empire not only from religious and personal life of the rulers and enable the point view of geographical proximity but also us to understand the coinage of those days.. from cultural point of view. In fact it is more suitable call the Vijayanagara Empire as the 2. Coinage issued by Vijayanagara kings golden age of south from the numismatic point view than from any other consideration. 2.1 Coins issued by Sangamas Coins of Vijayanagara Empire can be divided in to three groups i.e. Symbols, animals and gods and Sangamas rulers initially preferred single goddess. All the three are religious and express the deities, but later included the deities with consorts. religious leanings of the kings who issued them, the issued the coins of and Garuda richness of gold coins, the innumerable types of figures with the inscription ‘Sri VeeraHarihara’ in gold and copper coin, rich variety of symbols the and Nagari. The coins of Bukka I have the diversity of gods and goddess, appropriate legends legend, Sri Veera Bukka Paraya, Sri Veerabhupa in various scripts and technical superiority of the (kalpa) triya. Harihara I and Bukka issued their coins deserve the special attention. Metals were coins with representation of Hanuman embossed on found in abundance both wrought and unwrought. them, which are called Hanumantharayi varahas. Copper metals were found in abundance and quick The adaptation of Hanuman was perhaps due to silver were found. Important aspect of the coins of commemorate their connection with Kishkinda the Vijayanagara is the variety of coins of reverse and capital of the monkey king , which was the obverse. They had legends on the reverse and the source of inspiration for establishment of the obverse was reserved for gods and goddesses. dynasty, Hanuman coins may also trace the Coins shed much light on socio political and political alliance of Harihara I with Kadambas economic history as well playing a subsidiary role whose flag had representation of Hanuman. The in understanding how art was used. Garuda type coins were a reminiscence of the Yadavas hold in the territory in which they first Key words: Vijayanagara Empire, Krishnadeva began to rule. Adaptation of the Vaishava as well raya, Bukka, Gadhayana, Varaha, Pon, Pagoda, as Shaiva symbols on the reverse indicates the Suddha varaha, catholicity of vision of Harihara II who as his name suggests was a follower of Shaivism, and has figures of Nandi Sun Moon. During Devaraya II 1. Introduction the Elephant die was introduced in the Vijayanagara mint. This is explained by his being The reign of Vijayanagara which lasted for three adept in elephant hunting and his assuming the title centuries produced the illustrious rulers who issued Gagabentekara. His coins specially the copper the coins in metals of different denominations. The issues bears a representation of the scene of fight reign of a good currency system was prevalent between the king and wild tuskers elephant which during this period, coinage of Vijayanagara was was ultimately tamed down by the powerful strokes elaborate and well established, yet of the four of the spear. His other coins bears figures of - dynasties that ruled Vijayanagara, coins of second Parvathi, Vishnu-Lakshmi and the legend dynasty the are not known. Coins Prathapadevaraya, probably his copper coins have were used as medium of exchange, measure of figures of Nandhi, conch, sun, moon and the value used as Standard of deferred payments, Store legends in Kannada ‘Sri Devaraya’. of value .etc, .Coins of Vijayanagara revolutionised the trade and economy. Different symbols were

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1783

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

2.2 Coins issued by Saluvas changed his protecting deity from Virupaksha to due to his transfer of capital from The rise of Saluva dynasty also saw the declaration Vijayanagara to Penukonda and also changed the of independence of Adhil Shah the first king of deity on his coins to Rama revels his attachment Bijapur. No coins of this dynasty is known .This towards Vaishnavism. dynasty had a short stay in power and the rulers were probably involved in establishing their 3. Vijayanagara Emblems on coins position that may be the reason for lack of coins.Saluva dynasty lasted only for two decades Details of types and symbols attain a paramount and passed on to Tuluvas. importance when coins whose assignment to a particular king becomes impossible for want of the 2.3 Coins issued by Tulvas legend or the kings name on reverse. In some coins , only the emblems are observed to the exclusion of Venkateshwara of Tirupathi seems to have the legend, in which case a knowledge of the become important from the time of Tuluvas and various types and designs would be of immense enjoyed the same position during the Aravidu help in tracing their time and mint dynasty. under the influence of Vaishnava issued the gold varaha with the figures 3.1During Sangama era of Nandi, Durga, varaha, Counch and Discus, with the legend in Nagari’ Sri Pratapa Krishna raja’. His • Hanuman and Garuda in different posture half and quarter varahas have the figures of • Bull with a sword Balakrishna. His invasion to Orissa was due to • Elephant and King Pratapa rudra of Gajapathi had managed to occupy • Umamaheshwara, Lakshminarayana, Udayagiri and Kondavidu forts. In 1513 AD Sarswathi-Brahma, Lakshminarashima Krishna inflicted a severe defeat on the • Shiva and Parvathi Gajapathi and took the image of Krishna from Orissa as a war trophy and installed in the 3, 2 During Tulvas period krishnaswami temple at . To commemorate this event he also issued gold coins of 52, 26 and • Sri Rama 32 grains which contained a Balakrishna figure on • Counch them. On his way back he paid a visit to Tirupathi • Discus and performed the kanakabisheka to lord • Garuda Venkateshwara with help of gold coins specially • Boar minted for this purpose. Though he was under the • Elephant Bull influence of Vaishnava he continued the Shiva Parvathi type coins out of regard for family deity. Srirangaraya is stated to have conferred upon the 3.3 During Aravidu time East India Company the right of coining money as • Sri Rama the stipulation that the latter should stamp the • Venkateshwara with consorts figure of Shiva and parvathi on their coins • Boar 2.4 Coins issued by Aravidus • Hanuman • Vishnu and Lakshmi seated The Attribution of coins of the Aravidu rulers provides a great challenge; Ramaraya and his The earlier issues of the Vijayanagara currency is brothers started minting coins in their names in inscribed with distinctly figures of Shiavite gods about 1560 AD. Srirangaraya I issued copper such as Shiva and Parvathi and also favoured the coins have the depiction of Garuda or Vaishnava faith, while the, Tulvas and Aravidus Garudaberunda on the obverse and legend Sri were pre-dominantly adherents of Vaishnava Rangaraya on reverse. The Aravidu kings put the figures of Lord Venkateshwara with the legend 4. Denominations of coins ‘Sri Venkatapatiraya. They were great adherents of the Vaishnava religion as can be summarised A uniform standard weight of the pagodas were from their names and their family gods. introduced, the metallic value of the various coins Tirumalaraya issued the coin of Vishnu and and shape of the different coins were fixed. The Lakshmi seated with the Kings hands folded. coinage was subdivided in to various Venkata II issued the coins of Venkateshwara denominations such as Gadhayana, Varaha, Pon, with consorts. Venkataraya issued a coin as Pagoda, and Suddha varaha, Ghatti.Doddavaraha, Venkatesha standing as at Tirupati. Tirumalaraya Chakra gadyana, Tara (silver) Jtal, pana and Kasu

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1784

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in were of Copper. Nagari alphabet was used in the 6.2 Silver coins public records. Half gold varahas of Harihara II are of 26.4 grains. The gold varahas of Devaraya I are Many foreign travellers who had paid visit to 52.3 grains in weight. Krishna Deva Raya issued Vijayanagara Empire had mentioned the usage of gold varaha of 52 grains. Harihara II issued one- silver coins in the kingdom. They were being eighth varaha of copper in six grains in weight, and referred to as taur, tar, fara and tarh. Some had issued an order that taxes should be paid in inscription refers to them as Tara. Abdul Razzak money instead of in kind. This led to the coining of mentions silver taur as equal to one-fifth of a gold several fractions to suite the requirements of pana. Hence it is clear that there were two types of administration; the multifarious symbols found on silver Tara coins. The bigger was one sixth of a the reverse side afforded a rich material for the pana and smaller one was one sixteenth of a pana; study of the political religious and historical events, each traveller was referring to different silver coins which took place in the periods of the respective of the period. In the early Vijayanagara period kings that issued coins. In Indian coinage there Vijayanagara kings HariharI, Bukkka I, Devaraya I, seems to be no permanent distinction between’ Devaraya II and Mallikarjuna have issued the silver type’ and ‘symbol’. coins, important aspects of the silver coins is the presence of Kannada numerals on them. As the 5 .Language and alphabet on coins domestic production of silver was scarce and negligible, Government had to depend on the It is noteworthy that the founders of the foreign source of supply. When the ports eastern Vijayanagara dynasty Harihara I and Bukka I have seaboard was annexed by the hostile Kalinga kings issued the Kannada alphabet of the Hoysala period for seventy years (AD 1445-1515), the foreign which is as distinct from the Telugu characters, trade of Vijayanagara Empire was disrupted. exhibit in spite of their general likeness as some Importing the silver from the mines of Yuhan and peculiar features which are characteristic of north Burma was suspended. The stoppage of Kannada. The adoption of the Kannada legend and import of silver meant stoppage of silver coins for emblems of Hanuman and Garuda by the first two the kingdom. Taras had circulated as money up to kings tends to prove that the family had greater 1439 AD. Tara is rarely mentioned in inscriptions affinities with Kannada language and also. where the Kadambas with Hanuman flag and Yadavas with Garuda inscription and held sway for 6.3 Copper coins about two centuries prior to their rise. Coins of Devaraya II have the legends inscribed in Kannada. Copper coins of the period were pana, jital, kasu; Legends of the rulers were also inscribed in the the prices of ordinary household goods were quoted nagari characters. The copper coins of Bukka II in terms of copper coins. They were used in the have the legend Jaya Bukkaraya in Nagari. Only local, small transactions. They were often not the rulers at the fag end of the dynasty used Telugu hoarded owing to their low purchasing power. . The legends. The legends generally mentioned the name day to day transactions of common people were of the issuer and some of his titles. performed with the help copper issues. Balakrishna type of coins was issued not only in gold but also in 6. Gold, silver and copper coins of copper. This type of copper coin is a new to the Vijayanagara period already existing coins of Krishnadeva Raya.The Balakrishna type of coins became so popular that 6.1Gold coins people began to refer to them as bennemudde nanya (lump of butter coin) Gold coins such as gadyana, varaha, pon or pagoda, pratapa, mada or madai kati pana, haya were issued 7. Mints of Vijayanagara Empire by the Vijayanagara rulers. The function of gold coins and that of copper coins were not convergent. During the Vijayanagara period, a separate Gold denominations served as convenience department to look after mints and mining multiple of the copper denominations for large operation was established by Harihara, several scale commercial transaction, Since the purchasing private and state managed mints might have existed power of gold coins were very high, they were and references to these may be found in the rarely used in daily transactions, such gold coinage expressions. Barakanuru Gadyana in South Kanara, was hoarded for long periods and would change and Mangalur, Penukonda, Tirupati, Gutti hands occasionally in the kingdom. The best mode Tadapatri contained mints. Central mints were of storing wealth was hording gold coins were installed at Hampi in some of the coins, the mints offered in exchange only on rare occasions and are indicated by the letter on the obverse as Ne (for were utilised for transactions of greater magnitude. Nellore) Ma (for Madhura) etc. The mintage of

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1785

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

Vijayanagara was more regulated. The duty of Barbosa gives details of gold coins. The gold coins adhikari of the mint was to test purity and weight of which they call pardao are minted in certain towns the coins; they appointed goldsmiths as agents for of this kingdom over the whole of India they make this purpose. Goldsmith was well versed in the art use of this coin which in all these kingdoms. The of testing the fineness and purity of the gold. They gold is rather base the coin is round in form is carried a wax like substances and pressed gold coin made with a die; some of them have one side on the touch stone and ascertained the fineness of Indian letters on the other two figures. the gold. They also carried a small balance to weigh gold, which was highly accurate and would Fernao Nuiz commenting on the purchase of show difference of the weight of a hair also. The horses from Portuguese, Nuiz observes “on the whole test kit was so small that it could be carried road king Crisnarao bought 600 horses from the in the pocket of the goldsmith. Thus the Portuguese at the rate of 4 3/4for thousand pardaos government ensured proper regulation of current weight and finess of the coins. Rulers excluded the 9. Conclusion punch and had adopted matrix system and used the die-striking technique in the late 14th and The Vijayanagara Empire ushered in a new era 15thcenturies. Vijayanagara coinage served as in the history of South Indian coinage Almost all currency in South India. the Vijayanagara rulers have issued coins whose reigns are represented by their own coins, such as A note worthy point in the Vijayanagara gold, silver and copper..Gold and silver coins mintage is that some of the subordinate chiefs were which had almost become rare suddenly began to given rights to coin money in their own name, for be issued in large numbers. Political stability of the example the Lakhamana Dandanayaka had minted empire led to economic prosperity which was coins. Perhaps some local bodies also minted for reflected in its coinage their legends, their religious their own limited usage. Vijayanagara coins were believes, their prosperity can also be seen on found all over south India.

8. Accounts of Foreign travellers on their coins and even their mints were inscribed on Vijayanagara coins their coins. The earlier issues of the Vijayanagara currency bear distinctly figures of Shiavite deities Abdul Razzak the Persian ambassador who stayed such as Shiva and Parvathi, later issues of the 15th at Vijayanagara in AD 1443 has given account on and 16th AD the figures of Vaishnavites are found. coinage of Devaraya II and informs that Devaraya The Vijayanagara coinage served as currency in II issued the gold coins such as Varaha, Partab, and south India until the advent of Europeans in 17th Fanam. Silver coins Tar and copper coins. The century. Many foreign travellers have testified to Vijayanagara pagoda is Ghatti varaha, Dodda the well organised currency system of the period. Varaha, Suddhavaraha. We come across gold coins These coins offered a rich material for the study of of the Vijayanagara period which are half and the political, religious and historical events. quarter of pagoda in weight. The half pagoda was probably was known by the name Pratapa. 10. Reference 10.2 Books 10.1 Epigraphical and Primary sources 1. DP Karmarkar (1936) “Vijayanagara Empire Sexcentrnary Association” 1936 Dharwar. 1. Epigraphia Carnatika,, B.L Rice vol VII 2. Dr Narasmihamurthy..Numismatic Society of 2. Epigraphia Carnatika,, B.L Rice vol VIII India 3. Epigraphia Carnatika,, B.L Rice Vol III 3. Narasmihamurthy. Coins and currency 4. Epigraphia Carnatika,, B.L Rice vol X system in Vijayanagara Empire.. 5. Vijayanagara Inscriptions Vol I to vol IV 4. Gurthy Venkat Rao.(1922).Sources for the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums History of Vijayanagara. Oxford University Mysore press 6. Numismatic Data from epigraphy and literature 5. Krishnaswami Ayyangar, Sources of in Karnataka, ICHR Project Vijayanagara History...S .University of 7. Numismatic Digest Vol IV Madras 8. Bibliography of Indian coins Part II 6. Dr G.S. Dikshit, South India An Expedition 9. Venetian coins in Karnataka Dr Gopal in to past. Directorate of Archaeology and Museums 7. H.M Nayak and B.R Gopal. South Indian studies .Geetha Book House 8. Venkat Ratnam. Local Government in the Vijayanagara Empire

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-12, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in

9. Anila Vergese, South India under Vijayanagara art and archaeology....Oxford university press 10. Burton Stein The new Cambridge Cambridge University press 11 Nilakantha Shastri and N Venkataramanayya, Further sources of Vijayanagara History 12 Channabassappa S Patil Inscriptions of Vijayanagara Vol II editd, Published by Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Mysore 13 AV Narasmiha Murthy, ., The coins of Karnataka 14 Nilakanta Sastri (1955.).. The illustrated from prehistoric Times to the fall of Vijayanagara..Oxford University press 15 K Ganesh Studies in Vijayanagara coins 15 C J Brown, The coins of India , Indio Logical Book House 1973 16 MH Krishna Numismatics— 17 K Ganesh and Girijapathy, The History of Vijayanagara Empire 18 M H Rama Sharma, The History of Vijayanagara Vol I and Vol II 19 K Ganesh Technology of South Indian Coinage 20 H Khandoba Roa Coins of Karnataka from Barter system to 1947 AD Magar Publications

10.3 Journals

1. Studies in South Indian Coins, Editor KV Rama vol IX Published on behalf of the South Indian Numismatic society.

2. Studies in South Indian Coins, Editor Dr AV Murthy Vol IV Published on behalf of the South Indian Numismatic society.

3. Studies in South Indian Coins, Editors Dr Raja Reddy and Srinivasan, Srinivasan, Vol XIX, Published on behalf of the South Indian Numismatic society.

4. Studies in South Indian Coins, Editor KV Rama vol IX Published on behalf of the South Indian Numismatic society VII

5. Studies in South Indian Coins Editors, Dr Raja Reddy and Srinivasan, Srinivasan, Vol XII, Published on behalf of the South Indian Numismatic society.

6. Sangam Numismatic and coins history, Editor Dr R Nagaswamy

7. Sangam Numismatic and cultural History, Editor Dr R Nagasway

Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 1787