How I Went Medieval on Amazon!

A week or so ago I had an Amazon gift card with about $25 on it. I looked at quite a few items and a few bigger book titles on my list and somehow decided that I didn't want or need those things at the moment. I then decided I would challenge my self to use only the gift card and no other funds to find something cool.
After about an hour of fruitless Author/Title/ISBN/Keyword punching, I stumbled upon a coin. Under closer examination the coin was not the usual reproduction or beatup LRB crap that tends to find its away to Amazon. This was a beautiful fairly high grade medieval coin of a type I didn't own for $25 shipped. Yes! Click, Click,Click and Click...mine.
I receive a message from a very nice female seller with an "incredible" name, thanking me for my purchase and informing me she would be including a free gift for my business, I'm like..Fabulous. This was the only item listed from the seller at the time and so I responded with a thank you and an inquiry into more coins. The seller responded with a wealth descriptions of different coin types, rulers and kingdoms from $20 - $500. Some of which required "Googling" on my part. Again, I am thinking in my mind, Yes....then I finish reading and she tells me that she can only send 2 coins at a time due to postal issues. Again, I'm like alright, I am not the only one...right guys.
7 days exactly the specimen is in my hands. I was surprised to see where the coin came from but I suppose it would be appropriate.


a quote from Codrington...
Pandita ParakramaBahu II (1236-1271), was born at Sirivardhanapura not far from Dambadeniya. His first act after his coronation was to bring the Tooth Relic and lodge it at the capital. He then turned his attention to the recovery of Polonnaruva from the Pandaya, and achieved this purpose by 1244. The rest of the reign according to the contemporary records was spent in pious works ; the king also held a convocation for the purpose of reforming the priesthood, whose discipline had been relaxed during the Pandaya occupation. After reigning thirty-three years he abdicated in favor of his eldest son VijayaBahu. Having attended to restorations at Anuradhapura, VijayaBahu sent for his father to Polonnaruwa, where he was crowned a second time. The Tooth Relic having been brought, Parakrama held his ninth ordination festival at Dahastota, and then returned to Dambadeniya, where he died in his thirty-fifth year.

I was really fascinated with the various wars and invasions fought over the relic of the Tooth of the Buddha. It somehow reminds me of the lord of the rings.

Isle of Lanka(Ceylon, Sri Lanka)
Kingdom of Dambadeniya (North West Sri Lanka)
House of Siri Sanga Bo
Parakrambahu II AD 1236-1271
AE Massa 19 mm x 4.21 grams
Obverse:Traditional Lankan massa design of standing king.
The head consists of an irregular oblong, the right side being a vertical line, from which projects three horizontal stokes representing the nose, mouth and chin. The crown bulging outwards at the back. The two curved lines on either side of the legs slightly turned upwards at the end indicate a person wearing a 'dhoti', and standing on a lotus stalk with flower to the right. The forearm is bent sharply down; the hand grasps the hanging lamp. The right side elbow is curved down with the arm turned upwards holds a flower presumed to be a jasmine blossom. To the right are five dots or spheres. A rim of 40 to 43 beads.
Reverse : Traditional Lankan massa design of seated king. Head and crown as on obverse. Arm is raised upwards and the hand holds a conch shell. On right Devanagari legend Sri Pa ra kra ma Ba hu
Ref: Ref. Codrington 'Ceylon Coins & Currency,' # 84 (Additional help from Lakdiva.com)

 

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Very sweet new addition, Noob ... I don't think I have one of these babies? (I'll check ... but I'm almost positive I was outbid when I attempted to snag one of 'em?)

=> very primitive artwork (extremely cool)

 

Ah the free gift...

 

LOL.

 

Extremely cool yes, primitive I don't think so, I think they show a high level of execution. The style is quite alien. I would also like to note the series is generally looked over by most for being apparently identical to lay man. In fact the coin type is quite regular over a long period of time and was revered in antiquity. Parakrambahu II in particular is credited with the preservation of the type after a Kalinga Tyrant sailed 650 miles to destroyed most of the island.

it is also important to note that there are several different kingdoms and cultures co existing on Sri Lanka at this time. All which love Octopus man coins.

They are also quite stackable...In a separate occasion recently I was able to get 4 different kings and a queen in VF over a period of about 100 years...for $40.

 

Very cool additions Anoob.

 

OH YEAH!



i've never seen a coin i wanted (for a price i'd pay) on amazon, nice score. the style of these coins is very cool, here is my queen lilavati ...





i'd like to get one of the older chola types that are a bit more crude as well.

 

Nice buy for $25. Ive found some cheap empresses & world coins on etsy, just takes time to sift through the fakes. I dont usually check coins on amazon. Already mentioned, lots of junk.

 

Cool coins Anoob!!!

The 'alien' aspect of them is what attracts and intrigues me...and, of course, the 'story' behind each and every one...

And I like your 'free gift' too

 

My pprrrrecciioussssss... Golum!

 

I love these.

 

I credit you and this Queen Lilavati for my interest in the coin type. So I blame you.

 

More than will fit on one post:

 

I was going to make another thread but I was thinking, "ah what the heck".
It appears that either Doug and I have some Rare coins or indeed all of these are common. I don't believe it makes any difference with the current market conditions.
Queen Lilavati AD 1197-1202.

Bhuwanaikabahu AD 1273-1284 Supposedly Rare.

DharmmasokaDeva AD 1208-1209 Supposedly Rare x 2.

Sahasamalla AD 1200-1202 A commoner.

VijayaBahu IV AD 1271-1273

 

Worthy of note...

These coins of Medieval Sri Lanka are only a small part of numismatic history of the Island. There are coins dating to at least BC 300. I urge those interested in ancient coins to try and find them, you might be surprised.

These coins are decendent from the coins of the mighty Chola...

India, ThamiNadu
Thanjavur
AR Kasu (Kahavanu)
20 mm x 4.26 grams
Uttama Chola (970-985 AD)
Obverse: Tiger (Chola symbol) seated right faces towards two upright fishes (Pandyan symbol): bow (Chera symbol) behind: all under an umbrella above.
Reverse: Uttama / Chola - in Devanagari script
ref: Mitchiner #713-725 ; Biddulph #26
Note: One of my fav coins. Rare.

 

Terrific selection guys!!!

The stylized 'portraits' fascinate me.

It seems Doug and A-noob have 'cornered the market' on coins of this type

 

Nice job on those pictures, A-Noob!

 

It means a lot coming from you. Your images are always delightful.

 

Thank you . I do spend quite a bit of time working on coin photography. It's just another fun aspect of the hobby.

 

My small contribution to this thread: An electrum Kahavanu issued under Rajendra Chola (1012-1044 AD). Obverse and reverse of this are the same design.