1/4 Gajapati Fanam - Western Ganga Dynasty

The Western Ganga Dynasty ruled the Gangavadi region of present-day Karnataka for nearly a millennium, functioning as both independent sovereigns and, later, as feudatories under the Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas of Kalyani. Their gold fanam coinage represents some of the smallest gold currency struck in medieval India — at 0.09 g, these fractions pushed the physical limits of hand-hammering gold at any consistent standard.

The "Gajapati" designation refers to lordship over elephants, a title of considerable political weight in Deccan courts where elephant ownership was a direct measure of military power.