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Massa - Raja Raja Chola I
| Issuer | Chola dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 985-1014 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Cast |
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| Obverse description | A standing male figure occupies the central field, depicted in frontal view with stylized rendering characteristic of medieval South Indian coinage. To the left of the figure, a trident or similar symbol is visible in relief, while a beaded border encircles the entire design. A Grantha or Tamil script legend appears in the upper field above the figure. The overall style is bold and schematic, consistent with the die-struck copper coinage of the Chola imperial period. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | (Translation: Sri / Raja / Raja) |
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| Additional information |
Raja Raja Chola I transformed the dynasty from a regional power into a maritime empire, sending fleets against the Malabar coast, Sri Lanka, and eventually the Maldives and parts of Southeast Asia — campaigns that required sustained military financing and, with it, a prolific coinage output. The massa denomination circulated as workhorse currency through this expansion, handling the transactional load that silver and gold issues did not. MSI#344 varieties from this reign are among the more frequently encountered Chola copper types, a direct reflection of the mint activity that accompanied nearly three decades of near-continuous campaigning.