Setu coins orSetu bull coins are found in large quantities in the northern part ofSri Lanka and inSouthern India. Numismatists have clearly pointed out (Humphry Codrington in his 1924 bookCeylon Coins and Currency, and Michael Mitchiner in his 1978 bookOriental Coins and Their Values) that the traditional design of Sri Lanka standing King Type Copper Massa (coins) of theJaffna Kingdoms belongs to theAryacakravarti dynasty from 1284 AD to 1410 AD. Setu coins were previously attributed to theSetupati Princes ofRamanathapuram inSouth India. There are two series one in the issued from the 13th to the 15th centuries and the other after the brief loss of sovereignty to the rival Kotte kingdom from 1450 to 1467 and reconstitution of the Kingdom. Even during the rule ofSapumal Kumaraya coins were issued in Jaffna that was distinct. Three types of this series are illustrated below. The obverse of these coins have a human figure flanked by lamps and the reverse has theNandi (bull) symbol, the legendSethu inTamil with a crescent moon above.
There are number of categories of these coins. Intype I (1) is closely aligned with theChola copper coins of the 13th century although slightly larger in size. TheTamil Setu replaces theNāgarī script ofRajaraja I in the cola coins. In type I (2) the blank is even broader but arecumbent bull appears obverse in a vertical position. In the cointype II the seated figure is replaced with a Bull.[1][2]
Jaffna kingdom topics
