Lot No.775
AUC27
Foreign Coins
Auction Date: 01-04-2017
Copper
Sri Lanka, 'Polonnaruva period', Copper 1/8th Kahavanu of Dharmmashoka Deva (c. 1208-1209), not listed in MNC or MCSI, 0.33g. Obv: Chola-style 'standing man'. Rev: legend in three lines Shri / Dharmmasho /ka Deva.
About Very Fine, Rare.
Prince Dharmashoka Deva was aged three months and reigned as a puppet for about one year under General Ayushmanta. His fractional copper coins are extremely rare. In his book 'Coins and Currency of Ceylon' (1924), Codrington mentions only one known specimen that was in the cabinet of Mr H. C. P. Bell. Kavan Ratnatunga, pre-eminent Sri Lankan numismatist, mentions“…under 20 of these coins are now known to exist” on his website www.lakdiva.org/coins
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