India - Rajendra Chola : 1014 - 1044
Gold Kasu

A gold Kasu of Rajendra Chola (1014 - 1044) of Thanjavur in ThamilNadu, before he adopted the title GanGai Konda Chola about 1025 CE He was the son of RajaRaja Chola (985-1014) who invaded Lanka in 990 AD.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationGold Kasu
MetalGold 0.28
AlloyAg%Cu = 0.90
TypeStruck
Diameter19.4 mm
Thickness2.2 mm
Weight3.87 gms
DieAxis180°
Rajendra_chola_au_obverse Rajendra_chola_au_reverse
Rajendra CholaMitchiner #741-745 ; Biddulph #25
Obverse : Tiger (Chola symbol) seated right faces towards two upright fishes (Pandyan symbol): bow (Chera symbol) behind: umbrella above. Rajendra Chola - in Nagari script below.
Reverse : Similer.

Rajendra Chola is claimed to have succeeded to extended Chola occupation over the whole island of Lanka in 1018. He lost his life in the famous battle of Koppam on the Tungabhadra in 1044. Lanka became regained independence from Chola occupation in 1070 under Vijaya-bahu (1055-1110). This "seated Tiger" design is also used in a gold fanam coin.

The emblem of a "tiger facing two fish" was adopted by ThamilNadu, Thanjavur Uttama Chola (973-985) silver kasu coin The seated tiger represented the Chola homeland, the upright fish for the Pandya conquest, and the Bow for the chera conquest, under the umbrella of great Chola Empire.

Rajendra-I founded his new capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram around 1025 CE and assumed the title GanGai Konda Chola and issued new Coin. This older coin is discussed by Biddulph in his 1966 monogram on Coins of the Cholas. In his catalog he lists this coin #25 as by Rajendra I Chola (AD 1012-1044).

The coin was scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi. It was obtained in 2015 August from Colector Lalith Raddella in Colombo.

Text edited from
* Coins of the Cholas: C. H. Biddulph, NSI #13, 1966.
* Oriental Coins: Michael Mitchiner, London, Hawkins Publications, 1978.