MONETERY SYSTEM 500BC- 500 AD

Brig Siri Munasinghe[Retired]

CONTEMPORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE IN THE CONTEMPORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE IN THE ISLAND on rock inscriptions . The 3 volumes of Dr ISLAND on rock inscriptions . The 3 volumes of Dr

Paranavitane & other sources.Paranavitane & other sources.

CONTEMPORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE IN THE CONTEMPORY WRITTEN EVIDENCE IN THE ISLAND on rock inscriptions . The 3 volumes of Dr ISLAND on rock inscriptions . The 3 volumes of Dr

Paranavitane & other sources.Paranavitane & other sources.

• ANCIENT SINHALA WORDS ANCIENT SINHALA WORDS USED RELATING TO MONEY,USED RELATING TO MONEY, TITLES,PROFESSIONS,INSTTITLES,PROFESSIONS,INSTITUTES ,LOGISTICS ETC ITUTES ,LOGISTICS ETC RELATED TO THE RELATED TO THE MONETERY SYSTEM.MONETERY SYSTEM.

• ANCIENT SINHALA WORDS ANCIENT SINHALA WORDS USED RELATING TO MONEY,USED RELATING TO MONEY, TITLES,PROFESSIONS,INSTTITLES,PROFESSIONS,INSTITUTES ,LOGISTICS ETC ITUTES ,LOGISTICS ETC RELATED TO THE RELATED TO THE MONETERY SYSTEM.MONETERY SYSTEM.

WORDS INDICATING TRANSACTIONS COIN OR GOODS- From Inscription 3Cent

BC-1 CentAD

• DARA- TO PAY OR INCUR EXPENDITURE,daka-pati-kara-income from from water tax

• DANA- WEALTH

• DARADI, - MONEY LENT ON A SECURITY. darada-aya

• DANA GAIYA- ACCEPTED MONEY AS PAYMENT.

• PATI- A TAX

OTHER OTHER MEANS OF REVENUE OTHER OTHER MEANS OF REVENUE IN A AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY?IN A AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY?

• TAX FOR FISHING IN TANKS AND CANALS.

• TAX FROM HUNTING OR MEAT TAX-WAHAWARA BAKA.- IC NO 23-KOK EBE.

• WATER TAX TO FIELDS-• TAX FORM CROPS-PADDY, ULUNDU,

GREEN GRAM ETC

OTHER SOURCESOTHER SOURCESOTHER SOURCESOTHER SOURCES

• CUSTOM DUTY- IC NO 23-GODAWAYA

• TAX FROM FERRIES IC 45 MINVELA

• MONEYS COLLECTED FROM COURTS-FINES, KORAVAKGALA Inscription.Two kahapanas per day.

COINS ARE MAINLY FOR TRADE

• SO MUCH WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN ABOUT TRADE BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL.

• THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE 14 INSCRIPTIONS WITH SHIP SYMBOLS ON THEM.

• ABOUT TRADE GUILDS, TRADE CORPORATIONS [PUKA OR PUJA] ETC.

In Vol I No-1199

“Navalaka [Nine Lakhs] Spent FOR LABOUR [Hata paya kama] by king a construct a tank”

King Wahaba [65-109 AD]

• Built large tanks and canals. After this lot of cultivation Paddy, Ulundu, and other cereals in plenty. Cultivation of Cotton and Sugarcane [ sweet meats]. Machine used to crush sugar- King Mahacula Mahatissa[76-72 BC] gone incognito and worked as a labourer[ Mhv ch.xxxiv- para4-5.

• All this needed good steel implements. There is evidence of advanced techniques of manufacture, and a demand for exports.

• AT VIHAREGALA INSCRIPTION NO 43 VOL II.EAST OF ANURHADAPURA. KING SABA

PURCHASED A TANK FOR FIVE HUNDRED AND SPENT ANOTHER FIVE HUNDRED TO DE-SILT IT. THE NAME OF VIHARE IS EKADORIKA AND SAME IS MENTIONED IN MAHAWANSA AS EKADAVARA.

• WORD KADAVI MEANING CANCELLED IS WRITTEN UNDERNEATH THIS.

VASABA INSCRIPTION AT SINADIYAGALA NO 46

• THIS KING HAS SPENT HUNDRED THOUSAND AND QUARTER KAHAPANAS AT DAKKINA VIHARE. ALSO STATES HAVING PURCHASED A TANK FOR FIVE THOUSAND

KAHAPANAS. HE HAS PAID OUT 200 MASAKAS AMOUNG FIFTY FAMILIES.

VILEVAVA INSCRIPTION NO 65

INSCRIPTION OF GAJABA MOTHER, THE DAUGHTER OF KING SABA

PRINCESS MAHAMATTA HAD SPENT

HER OWN WEALTH AND PAID 4000 KAHAPANAS AND DONTED SAME TO HER OWN MONASTERY. THE TANK WAS SOLD BY LEHEYA THE WIFE OF GREAT ACTOR.

PROFFESIONS WHO DEALT IN COINS

• EVIDENCE OF THOSE THAT MINTED AND DEALT WITH THEM ARE IN THE INSCRIPTIONS

• RUPADAKA-IC 940• RUPA-VAPARA-IC 1205

THE EQUIPMENT AND THE EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS REQUIREDMATERIALS REQUIRED

• MOULDS, RAW MATERIAL, CRUCIBLES, EQUIPMENT ETC ARE FOUND DURING EXCAVATIONS AND A LOT WITH THE MEMBERS OF SLNS.

MANAGERS OF THE FINANCES?[ 300 BC-100AD]

• BADA-KARIKA IC VOL I 3,39,1035,…

• GANAKAS-IC 212,419,580,…..

• AMATAYA-BADAKARIKA-IC 1192

• PANITA-BADKIRIKA-IC 1035

• GANACADAKA-IC 86?

• AYAKA- IC-703

IN MAHAWANSAIN MAHAWANSAIN MAHAWANSAIN MAHAWANSA

DEVANAM-PIYATISSA SENT A GANAKA NAMED TISA IN HIS

FIRST DELEGATION TO ASOKA. TITLE OF SETTI CONFFERED BY ASOKA, ONE DISTINCTIVE

OF HEAD OF BANKING OR OF A MERCENTILE CORPORATION.

GANAKAS.ACCOUNTANT- VERSED IN GANITHA

MATHEMATICS

• POST HELD BY PARAMUKAS AND GAMIKAS.- over 8 of them [300BC-100 AD] all over the Island.

• A chief –Accountant named Vahali [Maha-ganaka- Vol I No 419].

• A SEAL OF A GANAKA- RAJ SOMADEVA

MAHWANSAMAHABODHIWANSA

MAHINDA’S MOTHER WAS A DAUGHTER OF A BANKER IN

VEDISA. HER 8 BROTHERS ACCOMPLAINED THE BO TREE. MANY MEDIVIAL KING CLAIM RELATIONSHIPS TO SUMITHRA

THE ELDEST BROTHER.

Badagarika• A GREAT DIGNITARY OF STATE.

BELONGED TO NOBILITY-GAMIKA OR PARAMUKAS.THE KINGS TRESURER.HISTORY OF CEYLON VOL I PT I PG 232.

• GOTABAYA WAS THE BADGARIKA OF SIRISANGABO BEFORE HE DISPLACED HIM.

• Mahawansa - INSCRIPTION [EZ., III PG 116], REFERS TO GAJABAHU [113-125 AD] .ACCOUNTANTS. BADA-KARIKA

KORAWAKGALA .SITULPAVU INS- CHIEF CEMA SON OF CHIEF

SUMANA

THE TRESURER OF PITA MAHARAJA -VATTEGAMINI ABAYA

PANITA-BADKIRIKA-INSCRIPTION NO 1035 VOLUME I AT ANURHADAPURA

• PANITA MEANS RESERVES OR IN DEPOSIT. TWO TYPES OF TRESURIES- CURRUNT EXPENDITURE AND RESERVES.

• PERHAPS ONE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESERVE TREASURY.IT IS MENTIONED HE SERVED A KING

RESERVE TREASURY

• THEY HELD COINS AND OTHER GOODS AND OBJECTS THAT CAN BE CONVERTED TO CURRANCY. PERHAPS paddy, GEMS, IVORY, GOLD AND SILVER JEVELLARY ETC. Kosthagarika.

• LATER INSCRIPTIONS TALK OF DEPOSITS TO MONASTRIES AND THE INTERSET OF WHICH WAS USED TO MAINTAIN MONASTERIES AND MONKS ETC.

GANAC [O] DAKA

• PERHAPS A DIRECTOR OF COPORATION.NAMED DATTA. This is no 89 of Volume I, an early inscription[ 3 Cent BC]found at Vessagiriya at Apura.

• The coin found in a layer carbon dated to Pre 3 Cent BC, is inscribed as

– Da Ta Ha

AYAKA

PARAMUKA PUSSADEVA WAS THE REVENUE

OFFICER OF THE GREAT KING

TISSAMAHARAMA INSCRIPTION.

KOK-EBE INSCRIPTION NO 37 VOL II

KOK-EBE INSCRIPTION NO 37 VOL II

THALATHA THE DAUGTHER OF PRINCE SANGA THE REVENUE

OFFICER OF KING BATHIYA ABAYA II-

DEPOSITED WITH INTEREST

• THONIGALA INS-NO 73 EZ III No 17: A SON OF A MINISTER DEPOSITS IN A

NIYAMATHANA - PADDY, ULUNDU ETC , AND THE INTEREST ACCRUED TOWARD DANE – DURING KING MAHASEN.

DEPOSITS/INTEREST

• AT OTTAPUVA NO IC 104; 100 KAHAPANAS DEPOSITED AND

INTEREST UTILISED FOR…….AT MALA-ANULAPA VATTHA

MAHAVIHARE.• ALSO IC VOL II NO 10• IC NO VOL II NO119

• IC VOL II NO 154

NIYAMATHANA

• IT IS A BANK OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kalamahamata, AT THE NORTH GATE OF ANURHADAPURA CITIDAL.

• IN THE INSCRIPTION AT Kekirawa- ASC/ AR 1896.GRAIN WAS DEPOSITED.

• The labuatabandigala Inscription a similar Institution NIYAMATHANA at the Eastern Gate.HERE 100 KAHAPANAS WAS DEPOSITED AND INTEREST ACCRUED ……

ATANASKT- AYATHANA

• THESE IS A REVENUE COLLECTING HEAD QUARTERS.

• IC VOL II NO 72[ KING MALI-TISSA ] & NO 92[ MAHALLAKA MAHANAGA], BOTH AT TAMMANKADA- MENTIONS OF ANTANA OR ATENEHA SITUATED AT UTTARAPURA.

• Ic No 94 at Apura , another Atana a revenue district of Devagama is mentioned during the Time of King Kanita Tissa[ 164-192AD]

BURSER- ATASAMA

• VEHERAKETIYA INSCRIPTION IC 165 NEAR KIRINDA.- A BURSER NAMED CAPATAYA OF THE MONASTRY HAS DONATED MONEY.THIS IS DURING THE PEROD OF KING MAHESENA LATE 3 CENT AD.

INSCRIBED COINSINSCRIBED COINS• COIN EXCAVATED AT APURA• ……Ya Ra Ja Pu Ta Sa Na Ga’ • BRIG HETTIARACCHI INSCRIBED COIN

– ‘KU DA KA TI SA PU TA PA NA YA’

ANOTHER COIN IS INSCRIBED

‘NA TA A TA PA NA YA’Read as Nata Atrapani ,Why not ‘ Na ta A da pa na ya ???

Some early miniature inscriptionSome early miniature inscriptionof Sri Lanka-Raj Somdevaof Sri Lanka-Raj Somdeva

• A LOCAL KING NAMED CINTA NAME

–‘ RA NA CI NA TA NA MA’– - A fish -250 BC-’ci’– A VICEROY HAS ISSUED A COIN

‘SA YA MA HA YA HA’.

KARA -KANEYAHIREVENUE AGENCY

• KING MAHANAGA[ 7-19] AD GRAND CHAMERLAIN’S INSCRIPTION OF KADURUVAVA NO 39 OF VOL II. IN KURUNEGALA DISTRICT- MENTIONS

THE REVENUE AGENCY OF GAVIDA-GANAKA.

• Kara- Revenue

BADA GABEHIA VAULT WHERE VALUABLES ARE STORED

• An Inscription at Ruvanvelieaya No 86 of Vol II, mentions of a document written on Talipot

leaf[ Pana], been deposited in the treasury vault of Lohapasda. This is a donation of a tank, dam, and

land of 8 karisha granted to the Mahatupa. It is dated the Full moon day of waxing moon, in the month of Pussa in the first year of the raising the Umbrella of King Kanitta Tissa the Son of King

Naga.

ArekahiAraksha- Guarding or Security

• No 88[ Minvila] & 89[ Somavati- Ceitiya] of Vol II. Time of King Kaniitta Tissa has provided 500 kahapanas for renovating the three Ferries and for Guarding the monastery.

• Also of interest is

• ‘ …the Kahapanas due on account of the proclamation made to this Vihare is not received………. A fine of 500 kahapanas will be paid..’

AN INSCRIPTIONS THAT STATES THAT MONEY WAS USED TO PY TAX

• HABARANA INS NO 99 OF VOL II OF KING KANTTHA TISSA. Here the king gives his overlords income to Abala and to Vesamany the Guard , the Grandson of great

soldier, so that they pay money- Rana in return to Kula- amana [ one amana of Paddy for each Kula of Paddy] tax.

RAJA WICKREMASINGHE RAJA WICKREMASINGHE COINSCOINS

• THREE GAPATI’s HAVE ISSUED COINS.

• SIVA, TISA, NAGA, MAJHIMA , DATA ETC HAS ALL ISSUED COINS-HOWEVER NO RANK OR TITLE OR PROFFESSION IS GIVEN.

• SOME TIME THE SON WHO ISSUED COINS HAS GIVEN THE MOTHERS NAME.. EX SUJATHA PUTHA OCCURS TWICE. The word Sujata was queen mother born to seven generation of Kehatriya Blood Royalty.

Factor 1

• Kahapanas has been used to value and to make payments goods and services, also used to pay fines is courts, Taxes and Custom duties etc.. Deposits of kahapanas ,Paddy and Ulundu were made to

monasteries and other institutes ,.

Factor 2

• The following officials were in place

• Minister to the treasury, Treasurers, Chief Accountant and accountants, Directors of Financial Corporations, Revenue officers, Bursars,etc.

Factor 3

The King had Two types of treasuries

1.One for Routine Expenditure

2.A reserve.

Factor 4

• There were different revenue districts for collection of revenue.

• The Headquarters of these are mentioned.

Factor 5

• There Financial Corporations, Banks or An assembly of a Board of trustees.

• These banks and revenue collections sections had Bank Vaults where treasures were deposited.

• There were Guards or security officers were at the monasteries.

THE ABOVE INSTITUTION BELONG TO

• 1. TO THE KINGS AND SUB KINGS

• 2.TO PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS OR COPORATIONS.

• 3. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS OR MONASTERIES.

INSCRIBED COIN ISSUES INSCRIBED COIN ISSUES

• A PANAYA ISSUED BY KUDATISA.

• COINS ISSUED BY SUB KINGS.

• PRINCES/ HAVE ISSUED COINS.

• VICEROYS HAVE ISSUED COINS.

• GAPATIES HAVE ISSUED COINS.

• NAMES SUCH MAJHIMAHA, NAGA, TISSA, SIVA , GUTA ETC HAVE ISSUED COINS

BUDDHIST MONASTERIESBUDDHIST MONASTERIES

• THEY WERE IN ADDITION TO A PLACE OF THEY WERE IN ADDITION TO A PLACE OF WORSHIP, A UNIVERCITY, HAD HOSPITALS FOR WORSHIP, A UNIVERCITY, HAD HOSPITALS FOR MAN AND BEAST, SECURITY …MAN AND BEAST, SECURITY …

• A BOARD OF TRUST THAT TOOK DEPOSITS OF A BOARD OF TRUST THAT TOOK DEPOSITS OF MONEY[ A BANK] AND MATERIALS THAT CAN BE MONEY[ A BANK] AND MATERIALS THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO MONEY. WAS MONEY LENT TO CONVERTED INTO MONEY. WAS MONEY LENT TO TRADERS AND DEPOSIT OF MONEY was made and TRADERS AND DEPOSIT OF MONEY was made and INTEREST utilised ?. EVIDENCE OF COIN MINTS , INTEREST utilised ?. EVIDENCE OF COIN MINTS , COIN MOULDS, CRUCIBLES AND OTHER COIN MOULDS, CRUCIBLES AND OTHER

EQUIPMENT FOR COINING HAS BEEN FOUNDEQUIPMENT FOR COINING HAS BEEN FOUND..• They had bursars, Vaults for deposits, and guards They had bursars, Vaults for deposits, and guards

for securityfor security

• THEY WERE IN ADDITION TO A PLACE OF THEY WERE IN ADDITION TO A PLACE OF WORSHIP, A UNIVERCITY, HAD HOSPITALS FOR WORSHIP, A UNIVERCITY, HAD HOSPITALS FOR MAN AND BEAST, SECURITY …MAN AND BEAST, SECURITY …

• A BOARD OF TRUST THAT TOOK DEPOSITS OF A BOARD OF TRUST THAT TOOK DEPOSITS OF MONEY[ A BANK] AND MATERIALS THAT CAN BE MONEY[ A BANK] AND MATERIALS THAT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO MONEY. WAS MONEY LENT TO CONVERTED INTO MONEY. WAS MONEY LENT TO TRADERS AND DEPOSIT OF MONEY was made and TRADERS AND DEPOSIT OF MONEY was made and INTEREST utilised ?. EVIDENCE OF COIN MINTS , INTEREST utilised ?. EVIDENCE OF COIN MINTS , COIN MOULDS, CRUCIBLES AND OTHER COIN MOULDS, CRUCIBLES AND OTHER

EQUIPMENT FOR COINING HAS BEEN FOUNDEQUIPMENT FOR COINING HAS BEEN FOUND..• They had bursars, Vaults for deposits, and guards They had bursars, Vaults for deposits, and guards

for securityfor security

LATE ANURHADAPURA PERIOD

• THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFICE NEXT TO THE ARMY COMMANDER WAS THE TRESURER. BUT EMPOYEES OF THE TRESURY AS RUVANA- VASSAN, KULATSAM-ARUB AND PITASSAM-ARUB[ THE DE-RUVANA -RATANA-TREASURE] THE INNER AND OUTER TREASURIES.

POLONNARUWA PERIOD

• KING PARAKRAMABAHU I HAD A SCRIBE LEKHAKA – VAGGA TO MAKE ESTIMATE OF HIS REVENUE AMOUNG OTHER THINGS. KNOWN AS BHANDARA -POT

• Nissankamalle Council Chamber- HAD A PLACE MARKED FOR THE TREASURER

MAHELAS- A SCRIBE WHO WAS THE ROYAL

TREASURER

• THE LATER KINGS- SENA II AD UDAYA II HAD THREE MAHELES. KASSEYAPA HAD TWELVES MAHELES DURING HIS 17 YEAR RULE. ACCORING TO INSCRIPTIONS.

LATER PERIOD

• KOTTE ROYAL COURT HAD BHANDARANAYAKE AS TREASURER AND AND ARAMUDALE- LEKAMVARUM.