DEITY WITH HALO AND RAILED SWASTIKA COIN.

DEITY WITH HALO [CIRCLET ROUND HEAD ] OBLONG PIECES.

The discovery of Four of these Oblong copper pieces in1885 were the first published  by Henry Parker. The Coins  were published by him in his famous book Ancient Ceylon as –

In the following descriptions of the coins the letter f. is ‘ front,’ and r. and l. are ‘ right ‘ and ‘left ‘ respectively.

Tissa Coins

No 1.The piece is  1.14 in. by 0.46 in; weight 52.5 grains..

Obv: A figure of a deity, facing f. over and round the head runs a slightly waved line or circlet. The l. hand appears to rest on something represented by three upright lines ; the r. fore-arm apparently turned up-wards. Legs slightly apart and feet turned outwards. There may be a tunic or cloth extending onto the thighs. The figure is well proportioned and even somewhat graceful.

Rev:. Indistinct. Part of the Swastika symbol visible with its arms turned r. To l. under arm of cross there are indistinct marks in relief.  [Colombo Museum.]

No2.. The oblong piece is 1.18_in. by 0.46 in. ; weight 44 grains.

Obv: With in a flat border, above the level of which the design does not rise [This style of false relief is a distinct characteristic of Sinhalese art, whether of early or later date, and is also seen in Southern India. Dr. Dresser, stated his belief that it was .not practiced by any other peoples than the Egyptians and the Japanese.],  a full-length figure of deity, wider at the hips than shoulders, facing -f.  A thin oval circlet round and over  head, springing from the shoulders. Feet turned half outwards. The arms hang down, I. hand appearing  to  grasp an upright bar at border, and r. holding curved stem, ‘ at the top of which is a trumpet-shaped flower or a cornucopia  with a circular flower over it, and leaves  or buds above. At each side, near border, is a thin upright line. one anklets on each leg and a bangle above r. wrist.

Rev:. In the upper third a Swastika, turned r. with stem prolonged downwards to middle of lowest third of coin, where it springs from a slightly curved horizontal line. Two short equidistant vertical lines of the length of the arms of the Swastika rise from the base line, on each side of central stem. Below base line and separated from it by a well-marked channel there is a parallel line, beneath which is a broad flat border line. Between the Swastika and basal uprights there are raised marks on each side of the central stem, but what they represent is uncertain.[ Col. Mus.]

No3 . The oblong piece is 1.22 in. by 0.50 in. ; weight : 41 grains.

Obv:. Below a flat border line outside winch is a sunk channel, i. a standing deity, facing f. Thick circlet from shoulders round L head. Four anklets on each leg and perhaps bangle on r. wrist. Arms hang down, hands grasping on each side a curved line which may be a flower-stem, that on r. having a side view of a trumpet-mouth at level of shoulder, above which may be an open flower and buds, as in No. 2. Stem on r. may also end in flowers and leaves. Below the feet a horizontal row of beads consisting of three thin upright ones in the centre and two larger round ones at each side.

Rev: The same Swastika, with thick lines, turned r. Base line nearly straight.Below it two slightly bent flat parallel bars separated from each other and the base by deep  wide flat-bottom channels. At sides of central pole are raised marks of uncertain character. [ Col. Mus].

No 4.  A piece 1.20  in. by 0.55 in’; weight; 35 grams

Obv;. Broad flat border along top and upper part of r’ side Standing deity facing f, with circlet  over head and resting on shoulders ; above the head a flat horizontal bar separated, by a channel from the border. Feet turned half-outwards, and clearly and accurately represented, with  heel. Instep , and side view of toes.  A large anklet on each leg .Arms hang down and hold at each side near border a thin curved line which may be a flower stem, ending at shoulder level in indistinct flowers and leaves. Above them two beads on each side, near circlet.

Rev:. Swastika as before  turned left on thick winding base below which and separated from it by a wide flat channel are two similar raised parallel bars, with narrow channel between them. On both side of central pole are faint raised designs that on I. resembling an early letter.-Ke   [Col  Mus].

 A Hoard of Coins containing Diety with Circlet or Halo and Railed Swstika amoung  other coin. These are all called Lakshmi Plaques by the Bopearchchi,

These were published by Bopearacchi & Wickramasinghe in Ruhuna- An Ancient Civilization Re- visited. The Coin type are briefly mentioned above. Of these the Type of deity with head having 5- 7 Dots has been published as Railed Swastika with the Bull and Pot .Of the many varieties all described by Henry Parker this is the second type , the rest of the types all described as Lakshmi Plaques will up updated in the future.

Name for this Coin–

Until the  Numismatist identify this deity or figure on the obverse face of the Coin, it will be called Deity with halo. The numismatists will have to search for similar figures of ancient Sri Lankan art and also if such figures were used on contemporary coins of India.?

DATING OF THE DEITY WITH HALO AND RAILED SWASTIKA  COIN

GEDIGE – CITIDAL OF ANURADHAPURA EXCAVATIONS.;In 1990-1992 the Archeological Dept under Dr S Dereniyagala excavated above site. A similar piece with above description was found in strata C 14 dated to ‘300-90 BC. ” a Coin  less distinctly a ” Male figure’, around the  head appears a ” Halo or Bonnet “with numerous rays emanating inwards towards the head.- Raja Wickremasinghe who examined these coins.

The symbol on the reverse is identified as the Railed Swastika and with some certainity this was the Royal Emblem of the first Dynasty of Kings.

The Two symbols on either side of raild Swastika.Marks uncertain?.

Underneath the Base of Railed Swastika is Two wavy lines.