2026-10-06 Tue

The Cholas were one of the three great Tamil dynasties of the Sangam age, alongside the Cheras and Pandyas. Their early history is recorded in Sangam literature, which provides glimpses of Chola rulers, their territories, battles, trade and cultural life. The Chola realm was centred in the fertile Kaveri delta, with Uraiyur serving as an important early centre and Kaveripattinam (Puhar) emerged as a major port. The Cholas were also closely connected with the maritime trade networks of the Tamil region, contributing to the prosperity and cultural exchange of early historic South India.

Among the fascinating surviving pieces of this early coinage tradition is a rare copper coin of the Sangam Cholas, weighing 2.94 g. The obverse depicts an elephant walking to the left, enclosed within a dotted circle. Symbols appear above the elephant, adding to the distinctive visual character of the type. The reverse features a lion/tiger facing left, its tail raised upwards, also enclosed within a dotted circle. The powerful posture of the animal gives the reverse a dynamic appearance.

The elephant was an important motif in ancient Indian art and coinage. Its association with strength, power and royal authority made it particularly suitable for representing the prestige of a ruling dynasty. The carefully rendered animal dominates the small copper flan, making the motif immediately recognisable.

The combination of an elephant and lion/tiger on opposite sides makes this coin particularly interesting from a numismatic perspective. Animal motifs were an important part of early South Indian coin designs, and such imagery provides valuable insight into the symbolic vocabulary employed by early Tamil polities. Unlike later Chola coins, which often feature more standardised designs and legends, early Chola issues are especially valued for their simple yet striking pictorial motifs.