Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Anonymous (c.960-1214), gold Kahavanu, 4.32g, type III (B), Jasmine flower and chank (conch), standing figure of Ceylon style, two symbols under arm in left field, holding jasmine bud right, four annulets below right with one solid pellet above, beneath feet a line connecting a conch on left and jasmine bud on right, rev. figure seated right on an asana (low throne), holding a conch, Devanagari legend in right field Sri Lamka Vibhu (fortunate lord of Sri Lanka) (Codrington 53; Mitchiner, Southern India, part 2, 311-2), small additional strip of gold added on edge above standing figure, toned good very fine.
Codrington and Mitchiner are both of the opinion that type III coins were the inspiration for the Kahavanus of Raja Raja I. , There are many minor variations to this type but an XRF test on one type III Kahavanu showed it to contain 43-45% of gold, 39-41% of silver and over 14% copper.
Estimate: £150 - £200