Fanam - Narasimha III

Narasimha III ruled the Eastern Gangas during a period of mounting Sultanate pressure from Delhi, and the dynasty's gold fanams from this reign reflect a court still asserting its ritual and economic independence despite that encroachment. The Eastern Gangas had controlled Odisha's temple economy for centuries, and these tiny gold pieces circulated within networks tied directly to temple revenue and religious endowment rather than general trade.

At under half a gram, fanams of this type were produced with remarkable consistency across South and Eastern Indian dynastic mints — a weight standard with roots older than the issuing dynasty itself.