The Cheras were the ancient royal dynasties of Tamil origin. They were one of the three famous ruling kingdoms of the Sangam age. This kingdom had ruled the parts of today’s Kerala and Tamiham. The Sangam age was started from the 3rd Century BC to the 4th Century BC. The Sangam Age was named after famous Sangam academies of poets and scholars centred in the city of Madurai.

The early Cheras used to live in the Indian States of Tamil Nadu; the only evidence available regarding early Chera kings is the anthologies of the Sangam literature. The Sangam literature is full of names of the kings and the princes, and of the poets who extolled them.

This uniface copper square coin that weighs around 5.49g was issued from Sangam Cheras. The obverse of this coin depicts ‘Elephant with the upraised trunk, a group of symbols with Bow & Arrow’.

Image Courtesy: Oswal Antiques