Rare pictorial cancellations and coins displayed at expo

Coins from various kingdoms, which ruled Karnataka, special postal covers and pictorial cancellations were part of the philatelic and numismatic exhibition at Head Post Office in Pandeshwar in Mangaluru on Sunday.

The exhibition comprised collections from Jayaprakash Rao from Udupi. He displayed some of the coins which where in circulation during the period of dynasties like Kadamba,Tuluva and Alupa, which ruled many parts of Karnataka.

The coins used in the period of Krishnavarma of Kadamba dynasty in Banavasi during 345-525 AD, contained religious symbols such as lotus, conch, chakra etc. Rao said that some of the coins do not have any legends and they are called anepigraphic coins.

Lead coins
Chutu kings of Banavasi minted lead coins during their period. These Chutu kings were the army commandants who declared themselves are rulers. They did not have precious metals to mint the coins and they used lead for the coins, Rao said. The names of these kings are also inscribed in the coins along with the symbols.

Those days, the denominations of the coins were directly proportional to the size of the coins, he said.

Coins used in the period of various rulers Krishnadevaraya, Achuradevarya and Sadashivaraya of Tuluva dynasty, silver coins of Sangama dynasty, copper coins of Aravidu dynasty were also part of the exhibition.

The name of the king ‘Saluva Malla’ can be found inscribed in Kannada on the coins used during period of Saluvadevaraya, the chief of Nagire. The Alupa dynasty coins have the symbol of two fishes, which was the symbol of the dynasty.

Special postal covers
The philatelic exhibition featured a special postal cover released during the seventh centenary celebrations of the Sri Krishna idol consecration in Udupi, during January 1985. The cover had the picture of Madhwacharya and a pictorial postal cancellation, showing Madhwacharya worshiping Lord Krishna.

Also, there were acknowledgment cards issued by the postal department during older days, which was given to the customers as a proof of delivery. These are pictorial cards and are different for different postal zones.

For instance, Kambala and Yakshagana are some of the pictures depicted on the acknowledgment cards issued in Karnataka postal zone. However, the issue of pictorial acknowledgment has been stopped six years ago and now there are plain acknowledgment cards. Special covers released on the occasion of Mangalapex - 2003 and Karavalipex - 2006, with special pictorial cancellations. Rao revealed that the pictorial cancellation featuring Alupa dynasty symbol, was designed by him for Mangalapex - 2003.