Pre-modern coinage in Sri Lanka

Large numbers of such coins have been found in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka too but a study on regional varieties is yet to be done.

The diversity of symbols suggests that these coins have been issued by regional rulers or traders and not by a central monarchy.

The obverse of these coins bear the image of the goddess holding lotus stalks, surmounted by two elephants pouring water.

The bull, elephant and fish symbols figure prominently on the coins used in northern Sri Lanka by the Pandyan Dynasty during the early period.

The obverse of these coins have a human figure flanked by lamps and the reverse has the Nandi (bull) symbol, the legend Sethu in Tamil with a crescent moon above.

The obverse is similar to the contemporary Massa coins issued by the rulers of the central Sri Lankan kingdom of Dambadeniya.

[citation needed] These coins known as 'Parakramabahu lion type' are found in large numbers in the northern and western parts of Sri Lanka.

These heavy rough copper coins were struck by the Dutch East India Company to use in the Jaffna territory.