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1 Kasu
| Issuer | Madurai, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1630-1700 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Tamil |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central field bears a large stylized Tamil character or royal cipher rendered in bold, flowing lines, likely representing a dynastic symbol or abbreviated royal title associated with the Madurai Nayaka rulers. The design is deeply struck relative to the flan, occupying most of the available field with a single dominant spiral or cursive motif. The surrounding field is plain and unadorned, with the irregular edge of the hammered flan visible. The reverse treatment is typical of Madurai Nayaka copper kasu, emphasizing a singular symbolic device over detailed pictorial imagery. |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
The Madurai Nayaks ruled as nominal vassals of the Vijayanagara empire long after that empire had effectively collapsed at Talikota in 1565, issuing their own coinage as autonomous rulers while maintaining the fiction of imperial subordination. The kasu was their primary copper denomination, circulating through a regional economy built around textile trade and the great temple complexes at Madurai itself, where market activity around the Meenakshi temple generated sustained demand for small-denomination exchange.