Hindu Dynasties
AV Fanam 7mm. 0.31g.
Shardula (stylized lion) walking r., crescent above.
Varaha (stylized boar) walking r, dots representing legs.
Mitchiner (1998) part I, #324; Numista #74837; Fr. 303
UNC Brightly lustrous with hints of orange tone. 'Viraraya' (Vija Raya) type fanam. This type was struck for at least 400 years, and possibly as late as the 20th century. This coin's fabric indicates that it is likely a later issue.
The Viraraya design became popular down the western coast of India and variants of the design were used in Calicut, Cochin and Travancore. While initially used under the Hoysalas before the 14th century, this type became formalized and stylized, and was used long after as anonymous issues.
