INDIA, KALACHURI: Gangeya Deva base gold coin. CHOICE

Kalachuris of Tripuri

Gangeya Deva (c. 1015-1041) and successors

Base AV stater (19 mm, 3.88 g)

Obverse: Goddess Lakshmi seated facing

Reverse: Devanagari legend Srimad Gan/geyade/vah

Ref: John Deyell, Living Without Silver, 119

Gangeya Deva began issuing gold coins carrying the image of a seated Lakshmi, taking his cue from the earlier Gupta coinage tradition. Gold was scarce in the 11th century, but his design was nevertheless copied by neighbouring kings. This coin type remained the standard in central India for the next 2 centuries till the Muslim invasion.

This attractive specimen appears to have a high silver content. It was probably struck posthumously by the successors of Gangeya Deva in the early to mid 12th century.