History Of Kerala Coins

By Author: Johnson Philip
Total Articles: 90
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Kerala coins are one of the most sought after and one of the most expensive coins among Indian coins. Yet these coins have only less than 1000 years of history, and prolific production of coins took place only in the last 300 years of that period.

Kerala as we know today had no independent existence up to around 800 or 900 AD, and all the indigenous coins that were used here were of the Cheras and Pandyas. Since the Kerala sea-coast was a great center of business with countries of the west, a large number of non Indian were also current here. These were mostly gold and silver coins of the Greeks.

A good amount of gold and silver coins, and even bullion that was used for business by the prosperous business community, were melted for use as ornaments. Kerala is one of the most ornament-loving communities in India. This has obliterated a good amount of ancient numismatic evidences, particularly those set in precious metals. Coins made of baser metals found it difficult to survive the vagaries of climate in a state where there are less than 200 dry days per year, and where relative humidity can reach up to 99% or ...
... even 100% during certain seasons. Humidity and air produce the most corrosive effects on metals, particularly those underground or those stored in the types of cellars that were common in ancient Kerala.

Independent coins of Kerala began emerging only around 1000 AD and much more research needs to be done and coins need to be unearthed to get a comprehensive picture. What is known at present is an approximate picture. According to this, indigenous silver coins were minted by several rulers from around AD 1000 onwards. Silver coins of Vira Kerala and Uday Marthanda are good examples. These silver coins have clear (old) Nagari script and many of the coins also have a spider emblem on them. The native kings in the northern parts of Kerala also issued coins.

Kings in pre-modern period such as Bala Rama Varma issued machine made coins and a few of these have survived. Numerous coins known as Theerakashu were also issued in Kerala, and these were used as loose change. More than 500 varieties of Theerakashu are known. Eventually foreign invaders such as the British and the Dutch minted their own coins which are the same as their coins from other parts of India.

Kerala was organized into the present state after independence and Republic of India coins were used in this state immediately.
Dr. Johnson C. Philip, the founder of Shastri Numismatics Academy, is an internationally known physicist, theologican, and communicator