Coins Of India - Indian Princely States

Another Thirakasu with Conch and three leaves on either side.

On the obverse, there is a "Vyali" (dragon) swallowing a snake. Sun and Moon above. On the reverse is a peacock with a snake on its beaks.

Such cool imagery on these little coins, that last one with the dragon and peacock eating serpents is VERY cool. Thanks for sharing coins and your knowledge of them!

Another one with peacock. Sun and moon above. there is a four petal flower-like device on the other side. With the four dots on four sides, it is a representation of the 8-wind compass rose known as "ashtadik" in Travancore areas. The eight directions are known by the names of their respective Guardians collectively called the "Ashtadikpalas". The central point is called the "Brahmasthana". Vastu shastra that deals with the effects of directions and their terrestrial magnetic impacts on living and non-living objects is of utmost importance in construction of traditional houses and temples in South India.

Another example with pea cock on one side and sun and moon forming part of a face-mask like design.

A coin most probably issued some time prior to or soon after issue of the Lotus/club type of coins. On this one, the lotus is retained. Image on the other side is a Samgh (Conch). Samgh, Chukram, Gada (Club) and Padmam (Lotus) are the four Vaishnavite symbols that very often adore the coins of Travancore Tirakasu.
The Samgh here is "valam piri samgh" that is spiraling clock-wise. This is in contrast to the "idam piri samgh" with anticlockwise spiral as seen on DK#057, posted earlier.

Thanjavur Nayaks came into power in 1532.CE, when the Vijayanagara ruler Achyuta Deva Raya granted permission to Sevappa Nayak, the then Governor of Tanjavur to establish a feudatory state.
Govinda Dikshitar served as Minister under Chevvappa Naikkar(1532-1580), Achyuthappa Naikkar(1560-1614) and Raghunatha Naikkar(1600-1634). (Date overlap between rulers is because the successor was allowed to be a co-ruler with his predecessor until the demise of the former). Raghunatha Naikkar (1600-1645) was brought up under the tutelage of Govinda Dikshitar. Dikshitar was a scholar, philosopher, musician and an able administrator.
When Raghunatha Naikkar came to rule, he honoured his much revered teacher Govinda Dikshitar by inscribing the latter's name instead of his own, on some coins. This coin belongs to that group. The copper issue weighs 2.6gms and has a diameter of 12.2mm. Its obverse motif is dancing Krishna and the legend on the reverse is "kovintayya" ("tayya" off flan) written in Tamizh script.