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1 Pagoda - Bukkaraya I Hanuman Type
| Issuer | Empire of Vijayanagara (Indian Hindu Dynasties) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1354-1377 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field depicts Hanuman, the monkey deity, rendered in bold hammered relief in a dynamic standing posture with multiple arms outstretched, characteristic of the Vijayanagara devotional iconographic tradition. The figure is shown in three-quarter stance with attributes held aloft, the form executed in a stylized, somewhat archaic manner typical of mid-14th century South Indian coinage. The irregular flan displays the pronounced convexity inherent to hammered gold pagodas of this series. The field surrounding the deity is plain and unlettered. The overall die work, though somewhat crude, retains strong sculptural presence consistent with the Bukkaraya I coinage type. |
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| Mintage | ND (1354-1377) |
| Additional information |
Bukkaraya I consolidated Vijayanagara power during a period of near-constant military pressure from the Bahmani Sultanate to the north, and gold pagodas issued under his reign functioned as much as diplomatic and mercantile instruments as they did currency — the empire's control of the Deccan gold trade gave these coins their authority. The "possibly debased" composition flag on this type reflects genuine scholarly uncertainty: Vijayanagara gold issues from this period show inconsistent fineness across die varieties, likely tied to fluctuating tribute payments and war financing rather than any systematic debasement policy.
KM#176 is among the earlier attributions in the Vijayanagara pagoda sequence, and accurate reign-assignment remains contested in specialist literature.