Aureus of Augustus, Caligula, and Nero found in the Pudukottai (Pandya kingdom) of the Tamil region from trading with the Romans! The slashes on the emperor's faces are contemporary to denote that they did not have any control over the land that they're using the coins for local trade. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_ancient_Tamil_country#:~:text=In the declining period, cotton,, coral, wine and topaz. The Tamil kingdoms have also issued their native coins inspired by Roman denari (along with imitating Roman coins)! These following extremely rare types (only examples) from the Chera kingdom depict the king's face with the Tamil Bramhi inscription stating their names Kuttuvan Kotai(1) and Makkotai(2), however, the standard Chera coins(3) are in a square shape with elephant and their symbol bow (fish and tiger for Pandyas(4) and Cholas(5)), and they lack any letterings. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Very cool. I wonder if the strikes were to test if they were indeed pure gold. Also interesting is the strike across the face. Since the regions were not ruled by Rome they had no reason to give the emperors any respect
Good writeup. Too many people aren't aware of this sea passage bypassing the Silk Road the Romans had through Egypt. It was still treacherous, with then, (like today), pirates hanging around Somalia to intercept cargo vessels. Interesting map. I simply wonder why all of these trade routes were mapped and it left out the most traveled one, the Silk Road. Connect Laodicea to Bactria on the map and you basically have a complete trade map of the region.
The taxes were heavy along the SR, but even during wars between the empires the SR usually was allowed to run. The Persians, Parthia and Sassanians, were tied to the revenue the Silk Road provided them. During Greek times the Silk Road went more southerly, but with the constant warfare in Bactria under Kushans, Huns, etc during Roman times the Silk Road moved more north. This also massively encouraged the Sea route to India, since the Silk Road moved and was less Indian and more Chinese as a result.
Ask yourself why sail around the tip of South America to get from New York to San Francisco in the 1850s when you could walk or ride over land?
Fascinating! Didn't know that the Tamil region was trading with the Romans. Thank you for your excellent write-up.
Thanks for this interesting story. I would like to show a little copper coin found in Southern India, that is from a much later date in Roman history, including what the seller wrote about it: 'South India, c. 4th century. Imitation of Roman AE3. Obv: Roman style bust right, star in front, pseudo legend around. Rev: Similar to Constantinian GLORIA EXERCITVS soldiers with single standard reverse. 14 mm, 0.97 gr. This coin was found in the Tamil Nadu state in south India, and is evidence of the trade ties that existed between the Roman Empire and the Tamil people under the mysterious Buddhist/Jain Kalabhra dynasty. The trade route went through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea, taking advantage of the Monsoon winds.' There's some lettering on the obverse, but I can't make anything of it.
