Massa - Raja Raja Chola I

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.