162 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CBYLON). [VOL. XVIIL 
A NOTE ON THE PALJIOGRAPHY OF CEYLON. 
By C. M. Fernando, B.A., LL.B., Crown Counsel. 
The collector of Sinhalese coins finds himself at the 
o 
outset faced with the difficulty of deciphering the characters 
inscribed on them. He then consults the works of Prinsep 
and Rhys Davids, and with the assistance of the plates 
and by mere observation of outline is enabled, though not 
without difficulty, to identify his coins. True it is that both 
these authorities give the inscription appearing on each coin 
in the Nagari character ; but it is the modern Nagari, which 
is in many respects so different from the old form, that one 
often seeks in vain to detect a similarity between the legend 
in modern Nagari and the actual inscription on the coin. 
The difficulty of identification is, however, insurmountable 
when one has had the good fortune to meet with a coin not 
figured in the standard books, unless, indeed, one has had 
the patience to carefully go through the various known coins 
and has prepared a list of the old Nagari characters to serve 
as a key for identification. It is to this opportunity that 
this Paper is due. I came into possession of a copper coin,* 
which I vainly tried to identify with the means at my 
disposal. I then prepared a list of the characters, such as 
is above referred to, and with its aid succeeded in identifying 
the inscription as Sri Kdlinga Laheswara^ and thus fixed 
it as the copper " massa " of King Sri Nissanka Malla.t I 
quote the reference to this coin in Rhys Davids : — 
A coin of Nissanka Malla has been referred to above, of which 
only three examples are known, two in possession of Sir Walter Elliot 
and one in the collection of Mr. Dickson, Government Agent of the 
* Kindly given to me by my friend Mr. W. P. Ranasiijha, who had it 
from a Buddhist priest many years ago. 
1 1187 to 1196 A.D., according" to Rhys Davids, but according^ to Wije- 
sijgiha's Mahdivansa 1198 to 1207. He reigned at Polonnaruwa. 
