The Colas c31.7

c31.7

An accidental discovery in 1946 in the village of Dhavalēśvaram (E. Godavari Dt.) brought to light a fine hoard of which only 127 gold coins could be recovered. Here is a genuine collection of ancient gold coins which have elsewhere mostly disappeared in the goldsmith's crucible. The coins are all of fine gold—thin round discs bearing a *lāñchana* in the middle, and letters round the margin, all punched on one side of the disc, the other side being left blank. There are 49 coins of Rājarāja I, the Eastern Cāḷukya king (Nos. 5 and 6 on the plate) which call for no remark; they bear the regnal years 33, 34 and 35 corresponding to A.D. 1055-57 as Rājarāja is known to have celebrated his coronation in 1022 with the aid of Rājēndra I Cōḷa. The remaining coins fall into two sets with different inscriptions in Tamil-grantha but one and the same *lāñchana* in the centre of the field which is clearly the Cōḷa mark. The inscriptions on one set (Nos. 1 and 2) read :