1462 - 1597 - Setu - Jaffna

Arya Chakravartis Copper massa

Traditional design of Lanka standing King Type copper massa of the Jaffna Arya Chakravartis circ 1462-1597, of Codrington SETU type II(6)(iii)variant a debased Type with several variations indicative of the decline of the kingdom.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination One massa Alloy Copper Type Struck Diameter 19.0 mm Thickness  mm Weight 4.03 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis O°
	Codrington 95 ;Mitchiner #868

Obverse : Standing king with crown consisting three dots, line and dot ; body broad, arms raised. Below body a line following the contour at each end of which is a dot. Below and separated from this line hangs the Dhoti To the left two semicircles with dot above each disposed virtically ; to right lamp, the stem of which consists of a large ball between two smaller balls, and the head of a horizontal line curved upwards at either end enclosing a flame. On either side of figure two dots. All within cicle of dashes.
Reverse : Bull couchant facing left. Crescent and sun above. Tamil legend SETU below ; large kombu. To right and left of bull a group of three dots.

See also earlier SETU - 1284-1410 - type I (1) coin and type I (3) coin.

Text edited from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency: H. W. Codrington, Colombo, 1924.
Chapter VI Mediaeval Lanka - "Setu" Coins - Type II(3)(iii)-Varient, Page 77
* Oriental Coins: Michael Mitchiner, London, Hawkins Publications, 1978.

The coin was scanned at 300dpi and displayed at 300dpi. It was obtained in 2001 December from O. M. R. Sirisena an expert collector in Colombo, Lanka.