Kadambas of Goa, Jayakeshi III, Bilingual (Kannada and Devnagari) Gold Gadyana, 4.39g. Obv: Roaring Lion standing in a raised forepaw facing left, Sun symbol on the right above the Lion and Crescent above the cyclical year. Name of the cyclic year (Samvatsara) “Yuva” is legend in Kannada in front of the Lion, Rev: Devanagari legend “Shri Saptako/ tisha labdhava/ra veera Jayake/si Deva Malava/ramari” in five lines. Very fine, Extremely rare.
This is the first time a Goa Kadamba coin inscribed in Kannada has surfaced thus making it unique. Kadambas of Goa were a branch of the Kadambas of Banavasi, who ruled the region Belgaum, Dharward, and parts of Uttara Kannada districts in Karnataka and the modern Goa. This coin has a provenance to the south of Belgaum and is a gem among any of the known Goa Kadamba coins hitherto. The Kannada inscription on the obverse reflects their roots and heritage in Karnataka.