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Gajapati Fanam - Western Gangas
| Issuer | Western Ganga Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 1000-1327 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 6 mm |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | An abstract floral or foliate motif occupies the reverse field, executed in the highly stylized idiom typical of Western Ganga gold fanams. Curvilinear lines and scroll-like elements radiate from a central point, creating a decorative pattern that may represent a stylized lotus or vegetal design. The relief is bold but irregular, reflecting the hand-struck nature of the flan. The composition is contained within the roughly circular boundary of the coin, with no discernible inscription or legend. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Western Ganga dynasty controlled the Deccan and southern Karnataka for several centuries, functioning as feudatories under the Rashtrakutas before asserting independence during that empire's collapse. The fanam denomination persisted across southern India in various forms for nearly a millennium — later struck in the same region by Vijayanagara rulers, Nayaka chiefs, and eventually European trading companies who found it impossible to displace from local commerce.
The Gajapati designation references the elephant motif traditional to Ganga royal iconography, the elephant holding particular dynastic significance as the Gangas claimed the title Gajapati — lord of elephants — as a marker of sovereignty.