Chalukya-Cholas, Kulottunga I, Gold Fanam, 0.26g, Obv: Peacock standing facing right, regnal year in Grantha Tamil below, all within a beaded border, Rev: Tamil Legend “Avani muludu daiyaal” (Not listed in major Publication). Unique so far, exceedingly rare. Chalukya-Chola fanams like their counterpart Gadyanakas are generally broader, thin and small weight flan currency units. Only 3 Peacock Chola fanams are known so far and all of them are unique. The Chalukya-Cholas had such good taste and dedication to craftsmanship that anything they produced are the most admired art pieces of worldwide museums.
Two Gold Fanams of Rajaraja Chozhan I
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A
brief note on a Rajaraja Chozhan I gold coin. The king appropriates the
frequent Chera emblems, Mazhu and Ankusham, after his first prominent
victory over the Cheras. This note has appeared in the 2022 Deepavali
Malar of OmSakthi magazine, Coimbatore.
https://archive.org/details/rajaraja-cholan-battle-axe-coin/page/n3/mode/2up
Oswal
Auction company has put on sale a coin with the legend, Keralandakan.
This gold coin weighs 0.27 grams. Sri. Alakkudi A. Seetharaman has
explained that this is the coin issued by Rajaraja Chozan I after his
first major victory against Cheras in battle, “Kaandaluurc caalai kalam
aRuttu aruLi”. It is highly likely that the letter "ma" (ம) in front of
the cockerel represents Mazhu 'battle-axe' as it becomes clear when the
second associated coin is studied.
Figure 1. Rajaraja I coin, with the legend, KeraLaantakan (Reverse side)
There
is another related gold coin, of the same weight (0.27 grams), issued
by Rajarajan I. This is put on sale by Marudhar Arts, Bangalore (Figure
2). In this coin, there is no inscription in Tamil script. Instead,
there is a battle-axe (Mazhu), and an elephant-goad “ankusham”. Note
that both ankusham and Mazhu are typically seen in Chera coins in Sangam
era or even in Venad Chera coins when Cheras became under the rule of
Chozha sovereignty. “vEzham uDaittu malainADu”- Auvaiyar. It appears
that Chola chakravarti appropriates the typical Chera symbol,
Parashu/Mazhu and uses it. It is interesting that the elephant goad,
usually standing vertically along with bow-arrow in Chera coins is shown
in a fallen position under the Cholas. In his later years, he builds
the famous Dakshina-Meru at Tanjore, as Cheras are driven slowly from
their Sangam Age capital, Vanji (Karur) first to Dharapuram, and then to
AnjaikkaLam by Imperial Cholas. The hill in the Vanji city was called
Meru ‘Axis Mundi’ and was used for Rajya Pattabhishekam by Cheras. The
original Chera capital, Karur’s degrading was accomplished by Chozha
kings’ campaign. This can be seen in Tiruppukazh, Kudaiyuur kaifiyat
(Colin Mackenzie mss.) etc.,
Figure 2. Rajaraja I coin, with battle-axe and elephant-goad on the reverse side.
On the Reverse side:
Outline
of the large Mazhu ‘Battle Axe’. Note the Ankusham ‘elephant goad’ of
Cheras shown in the “fallen” horizontal position. Both are usually seen
in Chera coins even in Sangam age.
On the Obverse side:
Outline
of the (single-bitted) Axe, with its handle, is shown in red. Note the
rooster standing above the buffalo (like Durga) is wearing a garland of
human heads, those fallen in the warfront. There is a single-bitted Axe
called Mazhu in Tamil above the right horn of the buffalo head. There
are four human heads around the left horn of the buffalo.
I've marked the battle field (களம்) or battle ring (கழல்) in blue color on the obverse side. To study this Chola gold coin, no rotation of the reverse side should be done. The seller has placed carefully the views of both obverse and reverse sides. As sellers of 1000s of ancient coins, observe carefully their photo of the two sides of the Chola gold coin showing the top-bottom orientation of the coin on both sides. See the elephant-goad (Ankusham), the Chera emblem, fallen due to Sri Rajaraja Devar's war at Kandalur Salai on the reverse side. Also, see the body parts cut by the battle-axe on the reverse side shown in red color. ~NG