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1/2 Pagoda - Achyutaraya Gandaberunda Type
| Issuer | Empire of Vijayanagara (Indian Hindu Dynasties) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1530-1542 |
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| Value | 1/2 Pagoda |
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| Obverse description | Central device depicting the Gandaberunda, the mythical double-headed eagle emblem of the Vijayanagara Empire, shown in rear view with wings fully spread in upward flight. Each of the two heads bears a prominent crest, and the plumage throughout is rendered with elaborate jeweled ornamentation. The two beaks and two talons each grip a fully grown tusker elephant, emphasizing the supernatural power of the heraldic beast. The execution is characteristic of Vijayanagara hammered gold coinage, with boldly struck relief on a compact flan. |
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| Mintage | ND (1530-1542) |
| Additional information |
Achyutaraya's reign is often overshadowed by that of his predecessor Krishnadevaraya, regarded as the greatest of the Tuluva rulers, but Achyutaraya held the empire together through sustained pressure from the Deccan Sultanates and internal court intrigue that nearly cost him the throne on multiple occasions. The gandaberunda — the double-headed eagle — became closely associated with Vijayanagara royal iconography during this period, its use on coinage asserting dynastic continuity at a moment when continuity was genuinely in question.
MSI 671 and 672 represent distinct die varieties within this type.