Pre-modern coinage in Sri Lanka

Most of the coins used in pre-christian Sri Lanka cann be categorised as Punch-marked coins, Tree and Swastika coins, Elephant and Swastika coins and Lakshmi paques.

They are referred to as punch-marked coins or eldings. Similar coins have been unearthed throughout the island. Large numbers of such coins have been found in the northern and eastern districts of Sri Lanka too but a study on regional varieties is yet to be done.

•  
  A punch marked coin
•  
  A punch marked coin

These punch marked coins are usualy in silver and have assorted combinations of symbols punched on them, Usually the reverse of the coin is blank. Stylistically these coins are similar to coins used in the Indian sub-continent during this period. A recent publication on these coins attempts to identify symbols peculiar to Sri Lanka. Some of the more popular symbols are Sun, Moon, elephant, bull, nandipada, fish and peacock. The diversity of symbols suggests that these coins have been issued by regional rulers or traders and not by a central monarchy.

The Tree and Swastika coins are always cast. The tree on these coins is sometimes called a Bo-tree, a tree with religious significance to the Buddhists. However as these coins are pre- Buddhist, the tree is more likely to be a widely accepted holy tree from the region.

•  
  A tree and swastika coin
•  
  The reverse of the tree and swastika coin

The older coins of this type are cast and the later ones are struck. The cast coins are much thicker that the thinner struck coins. A struck coin is illustrated below.

•  
  An elephant and swastika coin
•  
  The reverse of the elephant and swastika coin

The goddess Lakshmi coins are either cast or struck. The two coins ilustrated below are cast. They are found in may sizes ranging from about 3 inches to half an inch. The obverse of these coins bear the image of the goddess holding lotus stalks, surmounted by two elephants pouring water. Initially these were thought to be votive offerings. but now scholars are unanimous that they were indeed coins.

•  
  A goddess Lakshmi coin
•  
  The reverse of the goddess Lakshmi coin
•  
  A goddess Lakshmi coin
•  
  The reverse of the goddess Lakshmi coin

The Bull and Fish symbols figure prominently on the coins used in northern Sri Lanka during the early period.

• A rectangular Bull coin
  A rectangular Bull coin
• A Pandyan Bull coin
  A Pandyan Bull coin
•  
  The reverse of the Pandyan Bull coin
• The reverse of another Pandyan Bull coin
  The reverse of another Pandyan Bull coin
•  
  A Pallava lion coin
•  
  The reverse of the Pallava lion coin
•  
  An Elephant and Fish coin

Several types of coins categorised as Sethu Bull coins are found in large quantities in the northern part of Sri Lanka. Three types of this series are illustrated below. The obverse of these coins have a human figure flanked by lamps and the reverse has the Nandi bull symbol, the legend Sethu in Tamilwith a crescent moon above. The obverse is similar to the contemporary Massa coins issued by the Kalinga and Pandyan rulers of the central Sri Lankan kingdom of Dambadeniya. The reverse of the Massa coins have the image of a seated man with the ruler's name such as Vijayabahu, Nissankamalla, Parakramabahu etc in Devanagari characters.

•  
  A Setu coin
•  
  The reverse of the Setu coin
•  
  A Setu Bull coin
•  
  The reverse of the Setu Bull coin
•  
  A Setu Bull coin
•  
  The reverse of the Setu Bull coin

Gold and copper coins issued by the Chola ruler Rajaraja Chola are excavated from many parts of the country. The obverse and reverse of these coins are similar to the Dambadeniya Massa coins but the reverse has the kings name in Tamil characters.

•  
  A gold coin of Rajaraja Chola
•  
  The reverse of the Rajaraja Chola gold coin with a seated human figure and the king's name in Tamil
•  
  A copper coin of Rajaraja Chola with a Tiger besides the human figure
•  
  The reverse of the Rajaraja Chola copper coin with a seated human figure and the king's name in Tamil
•  
  A coin of Rajadhiraja Chola II with a lion surmounted by a sword
•  
  The reverse of the Rajadhiraja Chola II coin with his name in Devanagari
•  
  A silver coin of Uttama Chola
•  
  The reverse of Uttama Chola coin with his name in Devanagari

• A Massa coin of Parakramabahu VI with the Nallur lion
  A Massa coin of Parakramabahu VI with the Nallur lion

•  
  A Dutch Stuiver struck in Negapatam
•  
  The reverse of the Negapatam Stuiver
•  
  A Dutch stuiver struck in Jaffna
•  
  The reverse of the Jaffna Stuiver

LTTE Gold Token