2026-08-24 Mon

Rajaraja Chola I (reign – c. 985–1014 CE) is regarded as one of the greatest rulers of medieval South India. Under him and his son, the Chola state reached the height of its political, military and maritime power.His coinage is remarkable not only for its royal imagery but also for the scripts used to express his titles and names. To know more about the ruler and about the dynasty, read “Yuddha Malla” on Rajaraja Chola I’s Gold Fanam – Symbols of Conquest

The legend on Chola coins were generally inscribed with a hitherto less known sister script of Deva Nagari called Nandi Nagari, which was more prevalent in Southern India. It is noted that Nandi Nagari and Deva Nagari represent two forms of the Nagari script. During the later ancient and early south Indian eras, Nandi Nagari was profusely and officially used in inscriptions, copper plates, manuscripts, and on the coins of Vera Kerala, Vijayanagara emperors, and Chola Emperors. The script was later continued to be used by Tanjavur/ Tanjore Marathas and Gooty chiefs. Click here, to read more, Naga Panchami - Worship of Snake on Coins and Subbaraya Gold Fanam

The development of Nandinagari has even deeper roots in the region. Some of the earliest Nagari inscriptions recorded in Tamil Nadu are associated with the Pallavas. The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology identifies inscriptions of Narasimha Pallava at Saluvankuppam and the Kailasanatha Temple inscription of Rajasimha Pallava among the early examples of Nagari writing in Tamil Nadu.

The connection with the Pallavas is particularly fascinating for numismatists. The Pallavas had already incorporated Sanskritic writing traditions into their royal and cultural expression centuries before Rajaraja Chola I. Their script tradition—often associated with Pallava-Grantha—played a major role in transmitting Sanskrit across South and Southeast Asia. The Pallava period therefore represents an important stage in the development and dissemination of scripts used for Sanskrit in southern India.

The present coin is a Gold ½ Fanam of Rajaraja Chola I, weighing 0.71 grams. It obverse features a standing king facing right. The reverse showcases the two-line legend “Jaya Chola”, written in the Nagari tradition. The legend Jaya Chola may be understood as “Victorious Chola”, expressing the military and imperial character of Rajaraja's reign.