Anantasayanam cash of Venad (Travancore), mint Padmanabhapuram?

[Figleaf]

This coin is not mine, but I find it intriguing. I see a chariot and a conch (that side may be upside down,) but am sure that other interpretations are possible and reality may be different. What is your opinion? The piece was found by a detector pilot in the central part of the Netherlands. Other stuff found at the spot was 18th and 19th century, but this piece looks quite a bit older to me.

Peter

[Figleaf]

Further detail: 2.7 grams and 17 mm. Owner says the coin is rounder than it looks on the picture.

I found some conch shells on South Indian ancients, but not in combination with a chariot...

Peter

[akona20]

About the chariot/horse and cart, the only coin I can think of that has anything remotely like that vehicle is of Phoenicia (Sidon) of fourth century BC but that has a galley on the other side.

[Oesho]

Dear Richie, you are mistaken the lying Padmanabha for a chariot.
This is a Anantasayanam cash of Venad (Travancore) and probably struck at Padmanabhapuram.
See for an extensive paper about this series the supplement to ONS Newsletter no. 166 (Winter 2001) by Barbara Mears: Anantasayanam and Thirai Cash of Venad and Travancore.

[akona20]

Well that is rather fantastic. The Dutch connection is there.

[Figleaf]

That is a fantastic determination and a surprising find, but indeed, it can be explained. Thanks very much indeed, Oesho!

Peter

[Oesho]

Actually this type is pretty rare. Barbara Mears located (when she wrote the ONS-supplement 166) only 4 specimen with a weight of 3.5 -3.8 g.
I have such a specimen with a weight of 3.52 g. (see below). The dating is a bit of a problem. Mitchiner (The Coinage and History of Southern India, part Two, Tamil Nadu - Kerala, London 1998) attributes them to the 16th century. Ref.: M.1193+. Barbara Mears even goes further back and suggests that that they were Venad coins issued in the 14 - 15th cent.

How such a rare coin has gone astray in the Netherlands, is quite remarkable. One would expect that it came with some VOC-employee. The first connection with the Malabar coast was the treaty in 1604 with the Zamorin of Calicut ... with a view to the expulsion of the Portuguese from the territories of the Zamorin and the rest of India. In 1642 the Dutch negotiated a treaty with the Raja of Procaud. They also visited and kept friendly relations with other coastal rulers, but the actual Dutch presence on the Malabar coast, however, began in 1663 when Cochin was conquered from the Portuguese. So if brought to the Netherlands by VOC-employee, it must have been in the second half of the 17th century.

[Figleaf]

Excellent! I can see the lying Padmanabha on this wonderfully preserved coin. But what is the thing growing out of his armpit?

Also, a typical admin problem. Should this coin be filed under "Indian subcontinent: up to 1526" or "Indian subcontinent: Mughal dynasty and colonial (1526-1947)"?

Peter

[Oesho]

Padmanabha is a form of Vishnu and is the presiding deity in the temple at Trivandrum, where he is portayed sleeping on an endless snake, Ananta, in between the ages of man. At the start of a new age a lotus sprouts from his navel bearing Brahma, the creator. He was the titular god of the Venad royal family.
The thing 'what is growing out of his armpit' is thus a lotus.
The administration problem for Peninsular India can be solved when you list it under local and Princely States.

[saro]

Hello,
Just for the pleasure...here a modern token from Travancore (silver washed) without any legend but with a nice design of Vishnou sleeping on Ananta and the small brahma on a lotus / on reverse the conch.
Bernard

[Rangnath]

Nice Bernard!  Thanks for posting that.
richie

[Figleaf]

Great way to clarify. Fantastic, that such ancient motives are remembered today. Thank you! If the conch had been in this shape, I might have recognized it as Travancore.

Peter

[puthiamadam]

Here is one of the few ananthasayanam I acquired recently.  There are many varieties in different weights.  Weights above 3 grams are probably rare.

[Figleaf]

That is a very nice coin indeed to introduce yourself with. Welcome puthiamadam.

Peter