Roman/Greek gold coins were sO

easily avoilable to Tamils during

Sangam era (300 BC to 300 AD).
Black smiths mended these coins
to make two of the most
commonly known ornaments in
Tamil Nadu

Pkraian
Arsble\Gu
ynmar
South
Arabian oe Chna
Soe

Aca
Indlan Oceen
(Bomeg

Vangadesam l

Kayani,
Odda
Kalinga
Western amaratta
Chalukyas
Ang Nor
bhoja
hanjvur. Ap,Cholaguram
aappalan

Trade Routes
Srivij ava

Chinese cash found in Kollam Port

Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)
Kal Yuans
Obverse: Kai uan tong boo (The Inaugural Currency)
Early type (AD 621-718):
The jing component of Kai does not touch the hole. The head of tong is small. The
top stroke of yuon is short. The two strokes in the middle of boo do not touch the
verticals. (David Hartill; Cast Chinese Coins, p. 105)
Finds of Kai Yuan from tombs that can be dated to the first 100 years af the Tang
dynasty conhrm that this was the first type of Kai Yuan to be issued.

Coin No. T1

Wt: 3.21 gm Dia: 2.4 cm

Obv: Koi Yuon tong bao
Rev: Plain

Coin No. T2 (0)

Wt: 3.2 gm Dia: 2.4 cm

Obv: Kai Yuan tong boo
Rev: Plain

Coin No. T2 (n)

Wt: 3.68 gm Dia: 2.4 cm

Obv: Koi Yuan tong boo
Rev: Plain
Left shoulder yuan