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Silver Tara Veera Ballala III 1291-1343
| Issuer | Hoysala, Empire of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1291-1343 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Tara |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Stylized representation of a star or floral motif rendered in low relief on a roughly circular flan, characteristic of Hoysala hammered coinage. The central device features a pattern of pellets or granules arranged in a rosette or stellate formation, surrounded by an arched or crescent-shaped border element in the upper field. The design is executed in the typical schematic artistic tradition of medieval South Indian regal coinage, with an irregular flan edge consistent with hand-struck production. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Kannada/Grantha |
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| Additional information |
Vira Ballala III ruled the Hoysala Empire for over five decades, an extraordinary tenure that ended when he was captured and executed by the Sultan of Madurai, Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Damghani, in 1343. His reign coincided with relentless Sultanate pressure from the north, and the Hoysala kingdom functioned for much of this period as a last refuge for the remnants of southern Hindu political authority. These tiny silver tara fractions were the working currency of that resistance — struck in quantities sufficient for commerce but light enough that surviving examples are frequently found bent or creased from use in cloth or hide pouches.