Lot 615

AV 3-Swami pagoda. 3.45 g. Obv.: Full-length figures of three deities with triple crowns, representing Venkateswara and his two consorts / rev.: Convex, covered with dots, very finely granulated. In 1612 the Dutch concluded a treaty with the Sultan of Golconda to buy of the tolls at Machhlipatan for an annual amount of 3000 “old” Pagodas. In 1676 the were discharged from paying the yearly toll. A firman of 1639 mentions in this connection 3000 “Masulipatan Pagodas”, from which it appears that at that time the were put on a par with the “old” Pagodas. They are also called “old” 3-Swami Pagodas. They were struck at Pulicat and later at Negapatnam, for trade in North Coromandel. The 3-Swami Pagoda was at least struck up to 1758 at Negapatnam. RR XF. Ref.: Scho. 1247; Passon 45.1