Bull and Circular Symbol Type
Anuradhapura Period

A rectangular cast copper coin of a variety of sizes with a bull standing facing left or right on obverse and a frame with dots on the reverse. Found at various archaeological sites in Anuradhapura.

SPECIFICATIONS
AlloyCu
TypeCast
Height17.2 mm
Width17.8 mm
Thickness2.0 mm
Weight3.2 gms
ShapeSquare
DieAxisO°
 bull:left_wheel:square_obverse bull:left_wheel:square_reverse
Ruhuna OBRW #H.26 ; Mitchiner #690

Obverse : A bull standing facing left within double square frame with dots between. The alter in front is faintly visible.
Reverse : A wheel within a double square frame with dots between.

Bopearachchi and Wickremesinhe in Ruhuna illustrate a copper coin from Akurugoda of similer type H.26 (18 mm, 2.68 gms).

Mitchiner attributes the uninscribed issue to the period CE 250-600. Walburg has archeologically dated them to 4th-5th Century i.e. 300-500 CE.
Codrington describes 8 types various combinations of the standing bull facing (1) right or (2) left including other symbols such a flower vase on the obverse and a (1) circular (2) square or (3) triangular frame enclosing one to four dots on the reverse.

This coin is within the range of sizes from 16 mm to 28 mm and weights from 1.8 gms to 13 gms listed by Codrington who illustrates two in Pl.16 and PL.17. The term Rectangular Bull Type is used although this coin and even smaller coin are practically square.

The coins were scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 400 dpi. The coin images have been lightened to highlight features. The coin was obtained in 2000 September from O. M. R. Sirisena an expert collector in Colombo, Lanka.

Text edited from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
  Page 24 Chapter III - Ancient Coins - Rectangular Bull Type. Pl 16 to Pl 17.