Chola Coins and the Silver Trade with Southeast Asia

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Chola Empire used coinage not just as currency but as a tool of political legitimacy and economic control across the Indian Ocean. Focusing on the silver kasu and gold fanam coins minted under Rajaraja Chola I and his successors, they trace how Chola coins spread from the Kaveri delta to Sumatra, Java, and even China. The discussion covers the die-striking technique, the weight standards that mirrored Roman and Arab coins, and the hoard evidence from temples and trade ports. Lucas explains why the Chola deliberately mixed Tamil and Sanskrit legends on their coins, and how the iconic figure of the standing king under a lamp or the tiger emblem served as a brand of trust for merchants in the Ayyavole guilds. The episode also touches on the debate: were these coins primarily for temple offerings or for everyday trade? And what happened when copper shortages forced them to debase silver content? A specific look at the 11th-century silver coin hoard at Thanjavur reveals the empire's careful calibration of supply and demand. By the end, you'll see how a small metal disc can tell the story of an entire maritime economy. #CholaCoinage #RajarajaCholaI #Kasu #Fanam #IndianOceanTrade #Numismatics #MedievalIndia #SilverTrade #AyyavoleGuild #ThanjavurHoard #TamilEpigraphy #SouthAsianHistory #MaritimeHistory #SrivijayaTrade #DieStriking #CoinHoards #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo