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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ancientnoob, post: 2437334, member: 44140&quot;]For about a year I have a had a dealer searching throughout Sri Lanka for a very rare and little known coin of ancient Anuradhapura. These coins essentially rewrote the history of Sri Lankan numismatics in the mid 19th century. It was once thought that the earliest native coins of Sri Lanka were issued by Parakrambahu I (r. AD 1153-1186), having only been supplied by coinage from India and later Roman coins and their subsequent imitations. Then during an excavation of the Abhayagiri Dagoba, a massive Buddhist monastery, completed in the 2nd century BC, where approximately 50 pieces were found. The coins were said to have been dug from a very deep layer, dating to the the early 3rd century BC. With isolated finds over the next 150 years, several different arrangements of a handful of symbols has been found, as well as 2 distinct sizes some being cast while others were struck. Suggesting use as coin.<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/SRL-anuradhapura-abhagiriya-2.jpg/1280px-SRL-anuradhapura-abhagiriya-2.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Abhayagiriya_Monastery-EN.svg/730px-Abhayagiriya_Monastery-EN.svg.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p><br /></p><p>The series is given the name &quot;Elephant and Swastika&quot;, it is also the largest indigenous coin minted in ancient times and the first Lanka coin to employ the use of several symbols on the same side. This coin being minted shortly after Buddhism arrived in Lanka. </p><p><br /></p><p>The symbolism is indicative of most Buddhist themes you see on Lanakan Ancient coinage. The Chaitya (3 arched hill), The railed Swastika, The Elephant, The Bull (Nandipada) Symbol and the Bhodi Tree. Each one representing a different of the Buddha&#039;s life. There is also a triangle symbol added to the mix, this is called a Dhajaya or a type of Tamgha or Clan symbol. This collection of symbols is also found on the Mahatisa Inscription by King Devanplyatisa (r. BC 307-267), The layer was dated between (BC 300-190.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Most of the coins I can find pictures of appear to have been stripped of their patina and given new ones, while others are highly corroded. I think this has a lot to do with alloy of metal and the burial conditions. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is a difficult coin to obtain and took my guy about year, (and he is good) these generally are not offered at auction or for sale in your usual places. Most that own this coin know exactly what is and plan on being buried with it, I was reminded of how lucky I am to own this piece. This coin being very off center was almost a deal breaker but than I realized that all that it important is essentially still there. </p><p><br /></p><p>Lanaka</p><p>Kingdom of Anuradhapura </p><p>King Devanplyatisa (r. BC 307-267)</p><p>AE RoundFull Unit</p><p>32 mm x 13.00 grams</p><p>Obverse: Bo-tree, Railed Swastika, Dhajaya symbol, Elephant right.[Chaitya] all within a double boarder with Lines and dots.</p><p>Reverse: Railed Swastika. Chaitya and Nandipada, all within a double boarder with Lines and dots.</p><p>Ref: HW Codrington Ceylon, Coins and Currency (1924) Pl. I #7</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]507313[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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