Logo

Lakhs of devotees visiting the Sri Venkateswara shrine in Tirumala have over time offered gold, silver, copper coins and those of other metals to the Srivari Hundi at the shrine to express their devotion to the deity. This book is the second volume on the subject. It publishes 1382 coins of silver, copper and other metals found in the Srivari Hundi of Tirumala in order to highlight their historical and cultural significance; it accompanies the earlier volume published earlier that focused on some 1213 gold coins collected in the hundi over time.

The coins are catalogued here with many relevant details in order of chronology, dynasties and kings. With an abundance of illustrations that showcase all the coins with their obverse and reverse faces, the volume covers the coins by classifying them into Hindu coins, coins of the Muslim dynasties, and coins under the colonial rulers—the Dutch, the Protuguese, the French and the British—and coins of independent India. The chronological stdy of the coins covers a range of coins, from the earliest coin in the collection belonging to the Vishnukundi dynasty (fourth to seventh centry AD) to the latest coins of modern India. Coins of sixty rulers are showcased starting with the king of the Tughlaq dynasty, Muhammad Tughlaq to the coins of Japanese emperor, Akhito. There is a detailed coverage of foreign coins—coins of various metals of sixty-three countries-which are classified and studied continent-wise and with country-specific entries.