COINAGE OP TRAVANCORE. 
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would mean "8 of pure gold or 1 9-2 carats ; and " 9j touch " 
■925 pure or 22*2 carat gold. 
The Malabar Era or Quilon year, according to which dates 
are found on some of the coins, is supposed to be the date 
of the foundation of Quilon. The Malabar Era 1069 begins 
on 15th August 1893. 
Counterfeit chuckrains are sometimes common, and I 
have seen a copper kasu plated with gold. 
GOLD COINS. 
Gold seems to have been the standard of value and money 
of account throughout South India, and it was procurable 
in India itsell. It appears to have been the gold coin that 
was called panam (corrupted by Europeans into fanam) 
derived from Sanskrit pana — wealth. Of this metal may be 
named the following : — 
1. Ananta Varahan Pagoda, 
Ohv. Vishnu between two lotus flowers. 
Rev, Convex, granulated. 
(Bidie Plate III, 22.)* 
AV. Weight 52-43. Size. 5. 
Coined under Dewan Raja Kesava Das A.D. ] 789 — 
1798. 
2. Travancore Varahan. 
Ohv. Conch shell surrounded by wreaths. 
Rev. Centre" within wreath E. V. 1877 (Mai.) 1052 
above ; round margin, Travancore. 
(Bidie Plate II, 18.) 
AV. Weight 78-8. Size "7. 
• Note. — The references are to descriptions already given of the coins. 
Elliot. Coins of Southern India, Numismata Orientalia, by Sir W. 
Elliot. 
Bidie. Pagoda or Varaha coins by G. Bidie, Jour. Asiat. Soc, Bengal, 
1883. 
Tufnell. A collection of South Indian coins by R. H. C. Tufnell, Jour. 
Asiat., Bengal 1886 
Weights, in grains : size, in English inches. 
Mai,, AJalayalam : Tarn., Tamil; Hind., Hindustani, 
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