Sivaka

The sivaka circulated across the Malla-period kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, a fragmented political landscape where Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Patan operated as rival courts with independent minting activity. Gold coinage of this type functioned partly as ritual currency — temple offerings and bride-price transactions — rather than purely commercial exchange, which explains why so many survivors show minimal wear despite the four-century span attributed to the type.

Dating individual pieces within the 1098–1540 window remains difficult without die study; RGV#168 provides typological classification but not reign-specific attribution for most examples.