RajaRaja Chola : 985 - 1014

Chola Occupation Copper massa

Copper massa of Lanka type from the period of Chola occupation of Lanka by RajaRaja Chola (985-1014) of Thanjavur in TamilNadu.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination One massa Alloy Copper Type Struck Diameter 19.6 mm Thickness 2.0 mm Weight 3.62 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis 150°
	Rajaraja Chola	Mitchiner #730
Denomination One massa Alloy Copper Type Struck Diameter 19.4 mm Thickness 2.0 mm Weight 3.61 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis -60°
	Rajaraja Chola	Mitchiner #739

The design is that of the traditional Lanka type massa.
Obverse : Standing king with torch on left and group of spheres on right, surmounted by crescent. Reverse : Seated king on left facing right with legend beneath his raised arm. Sri Raja raja in Nagari script

The upper coin have dots within the 4 spheres on the right. The lower coin has filled spheres and the ra and ja on the same level unlike the coin on top. The lower coin has a symbol like a footprint and I have tentatively identified it with the footprint of Vishnu Vishnipadnam described by Mitchiner for his coin 739.

These coins are extensively discussed by Biddulph in his 1966 monogram on Coins of the Cholas. He goes into extensive discussions to establish that the Rajaraja Chola coins were the prototype to the "Standing and seated King" series associated with Lanka.
The Vishnipadnam shown above is very much like his coins 19 and 20 in this book which is from Lanka and says Generally much better executed than Indian specimens of the same type.
Obverse : Standing king with left arm raised to the face. Cresent Moon at left elbow and under arm four circular dots with Vishnipadam below them and symbol which maybe an ankus to the right. The temple lamp beyond the alter in which king makes an offering is replaced by fish. All within circle of dots.
Reverse : Seated king on left facing right with legend beneath his raised arm. Sri Raja raja in Nagari script. All within circle of dots.

Rajaraja Chola (985-1014) invaded Lanka in 990 CE and conquered the northern half. Ruining Anuradhapura he made Polonnaruwa his capital on the island;. Rajendra (1014-1044) Chola succeeded in extended Chola occupation over the whole island of Lanka in 1018. Lanka became regained independence from Chola occupation in 1070 under Vijaya-bahu (1055-1110).

The massa coin was scanned at 600 dpi and displayed at 300 dpi and were purchased on ebay in 2001 September.

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