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Auction: 22113 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 24: Indian and Islamic Coins Featuring 'A Gentleman's Collection of Sri Lankan Coins' - e-Auction
Lot: 5138

(x) Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Anonymous (c.960-1214), gold Kahavanu, 4.31g, type II (var), open lotus both sides, standing figure of Ceylon style, palm tree and lamp stand under arm in left field, holding an open lotus flower right, three annulets below right, beneath feet a line connecting two adahanda (half-moons) , rev. figure seated right on an asana (low throne), holding an open lotus flower, Devanagari legend in right field Sri Lamka Vibhu (fortunate lord of Sri Lanka) (Codrington -, obv. as sup. 4, rev as 48; Mitchiner, Southern India, part 2, -), a few minor edge defects, otherwise extremely fine or nearly so, a very rare and possibly unknown type



Kavan Ratnatunga has no coins of double lotus type listed on his website, Lakdiva. Codrington also does not list a Kahavanu with a lotus both sides, This is not an unusual combination for Pala (Quarter) coins, but may be the first time it has been recorded on a Kahavanu.

https://coins.lakdiva.org/medievalgold/kahavanu.html

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£420