Lanka : 980 - 1070

Gold Type III B Kahavanu - Jasmine flower and Chank

The anonymous gold Type III B Kahavanu known as Jasmine flower and Chank.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination One Kahavanu Alloy Gold Type Struck Diameter 20.0 mm Thickness  mm Weight Std. 4.53 gms Weight 4.3 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis O°
	Codrington 53 ; Mitchiner #825

Obverse : Standing figure with head to right. Crown thick straight line with triangle in rear. In a Dhoti (garment) indicated by two curved lines on either side and one line in between longer than legs, standing on a lotus plant stalk with small circle in centre ending on left in a chank and on right in flower as in hand. In left hand is an open Jasmine flower (pichcha mala) viewed from side. The right arm is extended with hand over a symbol (1b) consisting of a straight shaft with short cross pieces, ending in four prongs, which are thick. The head of the symbol is somewhat like the calices of two half-opened flowers, one being placed above the other. To right four annulets and ball above. A beaded circle along the periphery of the coin.
Reverse :A figure, head right crown as on obverse Squatting upon asana, (a bed-like throne) represented by a short oblong frame, divided lengthwise by a line and two cross lines. dhoti represented by bent line and small line in angle between the legs. The right arm is pendent over the right knee, which is drawn up; In left hand a chank. In field to right, Devanagari legend in three lines :

1	2 3	4 5	The anusvara over La.
Sri	Lanka	Vibhu	Vibhu is a title of Vishnu.

A beaded circle along the periphery of coin.

The gold kahavanu once fairly common in Madura District, in South India, appear to be all of type III B.

The Kahavanu was scanned at 300dpi and displayed at 300dpi. The coin was purchased in 1998 June from an antique shop in Kandy.

Text edited from
Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
Page 57 Chapter V Mediaeval Ceylon - Kahavanu.