Lanka : 980 - 1070
Gold Type II(2) Kahavanu - Adahanda and Lotus.
The anonymous gold Kahavanu known as Adahanda(crescent Moon) and Lotus.
Codrington Type II(2).
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Denomination | One Kahavanu |
| Alloy | Gold |
| Type | Struck |
| Diameter | 19.3 mm |
| Thickness | mm |
| Weight Std. | 4.53 gms |
| Weight | 4.4 gms |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
| DieAxis | O° |
|
| 
|
| Codrington 48 ; Mitchiner Unlisted
|
Obverse : Standing figure of with oblong head to right. Crown
curved line behind head with small horizontal line below and a
triangle of linked dots behind. In a Dhoti (garment) indicated
by two curved lines on either side, standing on a lotus plant stalk
ending at either end in a chank. In left hand is bent, and holds two
semicircles one within the other , i.e. the design used as a cattle
brand and called Adahanda(half moon) before the face. The
right arm is extended with hand over a symbol (1a) consisting of a
straight shaft with short cross pieces, ending in four prongs, which
are narrow and curve upward and downward. The elbow is over a similer
symbol (2) but with a plain shank and upside down. To right four
annulets, each with dot inside. A beaded circle along the periphery of
the coin.
Reverse :A figure, head right crown as on obverse without
horizontal line. Squatting upon asana, (a bed-like throne)
represented by a oblong frame fairly long, divided lengthwise by a
line and five cross lines. dhoti represented by lines between
the legs, the two ends at the waist appearing at either side of the
body. The right arm is pendent over the right knee, which is drawn
up; the left arm is bent, and holds a full-blown lotus represented by
a circle of dots with dot in center. In field to right, Devanagari
legend in three lines :
| 1 | 2 3 | 4 5 | Third aksharaleaning on its side to left.
|
| Sri | Lanka | Vibhu | Vibhu is a title of Vishnu.
|
A beaded circle along the periphery of coin.
The Kahavanu was scanned at 600dpi and displayed at 300dpi.
The coin was obtained in 2000 September
from O. M. R. Sirisena an expert collector in Colombo, Lanka.
Text edited from
Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
Page 56 Chapter V Mediaeval Ceylon - Kahavanu.