Medieval India - Pallava Lion
Narasimhavarman I (630-667 AD)

A small dumpy silver coin with a lion standing left with front paw rasied as in the Lankan Flag. Issued by Narasimhavarman I (ca.630-667 AD), of the Pallavas.

SPECIFICATIONS
AlloyAg
TypeStruck
Diameter14.2 mm
Thickness4.5 mm
Weight4.79 gms
ShapeRound
DieAxis-20°
 pallavas_lion_ag_obverse pallavas_lion_ag_reverse
Mitchiner 696-700
Obverse : Lion standing left with rasised right paws and tail double bent over back within a double dotted border.
Reverse : Stylized Devanagari Text. NA/RASIM DE/VA, sun and moon flanking the letter "VA".

These Northern style drachms were probably struck after Narasimhavarman's occupation of Badami (between 642 and 655 AD) from the Chalukyas.

I note the remarkable similarity to the Lion in the Lankan Flag except for the sword.

Text edited from

The coin was scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi. It was won in 2004 May on eBay from a dealer in USA