1196 - 1197 - Lanka
Codaganga - Silver Nikkha

The very rare Silver Nikkha of Codaganga who ruled for nine months.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationSilver Nikkha
AlloySilver0.12
TypeStruck
Diameter20.4 mm
Thickness2.5 mm
Weight4.12 gms
ShapeRound
EdgePlain
DieAxis180°
1196_codaganga_obverse 1196_codaganga_reverse
Codrington #79Mitchiner not-represented
Obverse : Traditional Lankan masaka design of standing king.
The head consists of an irregular oblong, the right side being a vertical line, from which projects three horizontal stokes representing the nose, mouth and chin. The crown bulging outwards at the back. The two curved lines on either side of the legs slightly turned upwards at the end indicate a person wearing a 'dhoti', and standing on a lotus stalk with flower to the right. The forearm is bent sharply down; the hand grasps the hanging lamp. The right side elbow is curved down with the arm turned upwards holds a flower presumed to be a jasmine blossom. To the right are five dots or spheres. A rim of 40 to 43 beads.
Reverse : Traditional Lankan masaka design of seated king.
Head and crown as on obverse. Arm is raised upwards and the hand holds a conch shell. On right Nagari legend Sri Co da ga (m)ga de va.
codaganga_legend

The extreamly rare base silver Nikkha of codaganga. See also his Copper coin for historical information. The coin was measured XRF to have 12.1% silver and 83.9% Copper and impurites 2.0% Gold, 0.4% Nickel and 1.6% Platinum.

Text edited from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency: H. W. Codrington, Colombo, 1924.
   Chapter VI Mediaeval Lanka - Sinhala of 12th & 13th Century - Series I, Page 68

The coin was scanned at 600dpi and displayed at 600dpi. It is from part of Lalith Raddella's collection I purchased in 2016 December.