While go through the madurai meenakshi sundareswar temple monthly calendar I found this picture of Velliambala natraja (spectacular pose of the lord natraja after switching over the right foot ) bronze with different types of kasumalai in that Ducat gold coins and East India 1/3 mohur gold coins were used.
1/3 Mohur ( 5 rupees ) gold coin was issued by East India Company ,Madras Presidency India in 1819. This couns were minted by Madras Mint. Symbolism used in the coin is Lion standing on shield in the backside of the coin there is a Persian inscription Legend in Persian (translation: Five Rupees of the Honourable English Company) each coin weights around 3.8800g..
Venetian ducat issued by Antonio Venier 1382–1400. This coin is a classic example of the symbolism used to propagate the idea of divinely-sanctioned right to rule—on the obverse we see the duke receiving the banner of Venice from Saint Mark the Venetian patron Saint standing giving gonfalone to the kneeling doge.
The reverse depicts Christ in a nimbus. This coins have a purity of 99.47% gold with a weight of 3.545 grams. Its was the highest purity that metallurgy could produce during the medieval period.
During the fourteenth to eighteenth centuries Venice in Italy traded with the ports of Western and Southern India. The Venetian traders brought Venetian ducats, the gold coins, to India issued by Venetian rulers — Francis Lorendano, Paul Rainier and Peter Grimani.
The Venetian ducats were in great demand in mediaeval Kerala. As these coins bore the figure of St. Mark, they were regarded as sacred objects by the Syrian Christians of Kerala.The Indian rulers purchased these coins as gifts for priests and scholars. These ducats were valued in India for their reliability in gold purity and unchanging weight so ducats were also used in jewellery and often exchanged hands as dowry. The ducats were called as Putali /Potli or porkili ( பொற்கிழி ) because as these ducats were given as dowry in a string bag (potli).
The ducats later found its way into the jewelry also and many were worn as necklaces.
--Ramu.Rm.N
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