Pallavas of Kanchi was a South Indian dynasty that ruled the northern part of the Tamil region from 275 AD to 897 AD. They peaked from 6th-8th century AD, when the iconic shore temples of Tamil Nadu were built! Trading with the Arabs and south-east Asia made them flourish, but by the late 9th century their southern neighbor Cholas defeated them and started a new era in the region. India's PM Modi and Xi Jinping in front of the Pallava single rock carvings. The Shore Temple Now let's get to the deal, I bought this Potin coin of the Pallava's from an Indian dealer exactly on June 2 for my collection of South Indian kingdoms, which I only got today, my only other potin is from the celts! On the obverse is the stylized humped bull, their royal seal, and there are Tamil-Grantha (a combination language of Tamil+Sanskrit created by the Pallava's) legends above the bull most likely referring to Mahendra Varman I (600-630AD) or his son Narasimha Varman I (630-668 AD) this period was their peak and when most of their coins have been from. The reverse has the 16-spoked wheel of 'Dharmachakra' aka karma cycle! I really wanted to make a write-up for the Pallavas as there is no such thing in any coin forums! 1.35 g 13 mm
Really cool coin @JayAg47! Are there any good books on the coins of southern India? I’ve seen some for northern India, but can’t think of any for the south.
Very cool! I didn't know the Pallava issued potin coins as late as the 7th century, that's really neat. It's an attractive design as well, I love the Dharmachakra cycle on the reverse.
a nice article with photos of temple https://pragyata.com/the-magnificent-shore-temple-and-rathas-at-mahabalipuram-part-i/ Went there a few years ago in summer -- temperature went over 120 which was a record at the time and I was a bit delerious but was one of the most amazing parts of the world I have visited. nearby is a town of stone sculptors who mostly carve with hand tools ( recarve over and over the same religious items) who are technically some of the finest stone carvers I have ever encountered. This temple is granite -- as a sculptor I am beyond amazed -- very hard stone to work with a hammer and chisel.
There are several, but dated. I typically use the following: The Coinage and History of Southern India - Part 1 and Part 2 by Michael Mitchiner Studies in Vijayanagar Coins by K Ganesh Karnataka Coins by K Ganesh Coins of Banavasi c. 300 BC-AD 600 by K Ganesh The Coins of the Hoysalas by K Ganesh The Coins of TamilNadu by K Ganesh
Here are a few Pallava coins from my collection. I really have to re-organize my South Indian coins as there are several that I need to take photos of: Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Anonymous (ca. 3rd century) Pb Unit (MSI-232; cf. Pieper-739) Obv: Bull standing to right Rev: Uniface Dim: 5.05g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Anonymous (ca. 400-675 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-214) Obv: Bull standing to right with symbols above Rev: Dharmachakra wheel Dim: 5.36g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Mahendravarman I (580-630 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-228) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend vampu above Rev: Conch shell with lamps on either side enclosed within a rayed circle Dim: 2.56g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Mahendravarman I (580-630 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-235; Pieper-752) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend la-kshi-ta above Rev: Lotus in rayed border Dim: 2.65g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Mahendravarman I (580-630 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-240; Pieper-753) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend pa-ka-pi-tu-ku above, circular border Rev: Conch in rayed border Dim: 1.53g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Mahendravarman I (580-630 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-243; Pieper-751) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend u-dda-ti above, circular border Rev: Chakra, circular border decorated with crescents Dim: 2.73g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Narasimhavarman (630-668 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurthy-280; Pieper-756) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend sri bhara above, circular border Rev: Two juxtaposed fish, border around Dim: 1.48g Pallavas of Kanchipuram: Mahendra Varman II (660-670 CE) Potin Unit (Krishnamurty-262) Obv: Bull standing to right, legend sakalabhajana above, circular border Rev: Large chakra with scalloped border Dim: 1.24g
there are! mostly written by Dr Krishnamurthy! https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n43a06.html http://www.iirnspublications.com/book-detail.php?proid=164
Auctions...Those are the only sensible place to get coins of higher conditions these days, unfortunately. These are somewhat special as they were from the collection of Pieper. I do have several that I picked up through the years from Indian dealers that needs to be photographed better:
