South Indian, Gold Gadyana, 4.34g, unattributed, from the coastal Karnataka region, c. 9th century, Obv: a geometric design composed on lines and dots resembling a holy ‘Mandala’ or ‘Yantra’, Rev: crude imitation of a Kufic (Arabic) legend copied from Islamic Umayyad/Abbasid Dinar. Not listed in major publications on South Indian currency systems. Very fine, very rare.
The occurrence of a pseudo-Arabic inscription is an interesting feature of this coin. Trade in Arabian horses was a main feature of maritime networks between the Arabian Peninsula and India’s western coast.