Century 3rd BCE. to 1st CE - Lanka
Ruhuna - Elephant and Svastika
Elephant and Svastika coins have recently been found at Akurugoda near
Tissmaharama in south east Lanka. It is the classic and largest of
the ancient coins which is uniquely from Lanka.
SPECIFICATIONS |
Alloy | Copper | |
Type | Struck ? |
Diameter | 30.7 mm |
Thickness | 3.2 mm |
Weight | 11.01 gms |
DieAxis | 20° |
Shape | round |
Condition | Partly cleaned |
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Obverse : On bottom, an Elephant walking to the left with trunk
extended and tail ending in a triple fork, Above are four standard
symbols.
Just above elephant: the elongated Flag, The railed svastika(off-flan),
Upper left the Tree with three-Branches and three-leaves each in enclosure,
divided into four compartments,
Upper right the Chitaya of three small cells, the two bottom ones are
contiguous. Two Four-dot symbols near front legs and tail of elephant.
Plain circle enclosing the symbols partly visible.
Reverse : On top, the railed Svastika revolving right.
To left inverted triangle which is upper half of a hour glass symbol.
Plain circle enclosing the symbols partly visible.
The coin was scanned at 300 dpi and displayed at 200 dpi.
It was obtained in 2003 May in uncleaned condition from Ratnayaka,
a collector in Kataragama, Lanka. It was cleaned
by me.