2026-08-27 Thu

The Cholas were one of the ancient Tamil dynasties, with their history extending back to the Sangam age. Along with the Cheras and Pandyas, they were among the three great powers of early historic Tamilakam. The Cholas were associated with the fertile Kaveri river valley, which later became the heartland of their imperial expansion.

The Chola Empire lay between the Pennar and Vellar rivers, stretching from the Tiruchirappalli region toward southern Andhra. Capitals were Uraiyur (modern Tiruchirappalli) inland and the port city of Puhar (Kaveripattinam) on the coast. Their emblem was the tiger. Trade in cotton textiles and overseas commerce through Puhar formed a major source of wealth.

The coinage attributed to the Sangam Cholas is particularly fascinating because it preserves some of the earliest visual expressions of Chola identity. Unlike later Chola coins, which frequently carried legends, these early pieces relied heavily on animal motifs and symbolic imagery.

Among these is this remarkable copper coin weighing 5.62 g. Its obverse presents a striking composition of an elephant standing to the right before a tree enclosed within a railing, accompanied by a five-petalled flower. Beneath the main scene is a river containing fish, while taurines and other symbols appear above. The reverse features a tiger standing to the right with its tail raised, enclosed within a border.

The combination of the elephant and tiger is especially significant. The tiger would eventually become the most recognizable emblem of the Cholas, while the elephant was an important symbol in the political and religious culture of ancient India. The presence of the river and fish may also evoke the importance of the Kaveri and the fertile landscape of the Chola country.