Title: Coin
Period/Date: 16th century CE
Dynasty/Style: Tuluva
Provenance: Andhra Pradesh
Medium: Gold coin
Dimensions: Di. 11 (mm)
Weight: 4 gm
Credit Line: Dr. Bhadragirish
Accession Number: PIF00CN14
The Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by the Tuluva Dynasty. King Achyutaraya (1530-41 CE), younger cousin of Sri Krishnadevaraya, issued a gold coin depicting Gandabherunda.
On the obverse side of the coin, a massive two-headed bird is seen soaring and carrying four elephants, two in its beaks and two in its two claws. It is called a Gandaberunda, or double-headed eagle, and it is adorned with jewellery. On the reverse side is a very finely inscribed three-line Devanagari legend with interlinear rules featuring ‘Sri Pratap Achyutaraya’.