Pagoda - Krishna Deva Raya Double Presentation Pagoda

Krishna Deva Raya, who ruled Vijayanagara from 1509 to 1529, is widely regarded as the empire's greatest monarch — his reign coinciding with a period of military expansion, literary patronage, and considerable fiscal confidence. Double-weight presentation pagodas were not struck for commerce. They were diplomatic and ceremonial objects, issued to mark victories, honor dignitaries, or accompany temple donations, and 1516 falls squarely within his most aggressive northern campaigns against the Sultans of the Deccan.

The double pagoda format meant striking on a broader, thicker flan, which frequently produced uneven surfaces — a known characteristic of the type, not a strike deficiency.