2016-09-24 Sat

The emergence of Vijayanagar empire saw a new phase of coinage in south India. One of the contributions of the Vijayanagar empire was the remarkable improvement in the currency system in south India, completely changing the scarcity of coins that existed prior to its period.

Krishnadevaraya (AD 1509-1529) of Tuluva Dynasty was one of the greatest rulers of Vijayanagar. He issued many gold coins and one of his extremely rare Double Pagoda coins depicts the standing Lord Venkateshwara with a discus and conch on either of his hands. The right front hand is in the Varada mudra and the left on his hip. The reverse has a three-line Nagari legend “Sri-Krashna ra-ya”. This masterpiece of Numismatics is sold for INR 18,00,000!

The coin was probably issued during the Kanakhabhisheka of Lord Venkateshwara after his victories over Kondavidu and Orissa.