1/4 Fanam

The Hoysala dynasty, ruling from their Karnataka heartland for over three centuries, maintained a remarkably consistent coinage despite near-constant military pressure from the Pandyas to the south and, later, the advancing forces of the Delhi Sultanate. The fanam denominations were the workhorses of local temple economy and merchant exchange across the Deccan.

At 3 mm, these quarter fanams rank among the smallest gold coins produced anywhere in medieval India. The dies were hand-cut and individually punched, meaning no two pieces are strictly identical.