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) a debased Type with several variations indicative of the decline of the kingdom.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationOne massa
AlloyCopper
TypeStruck
Diameter18.8 mm
Thickness1.9 mm
Weight3.12 gms
ShapeRound
EdgePlain
DieAxisO°
 setu_II-massa_cu_obverse setu_II-massa_cu_reverse
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 600dpi and displayed at 300dpi. It was obtained in 2008 April from a local dealer in Polonnaruwa, Lanka. See also coin obtained in 2001