8. ALLEGED COIN OF TIRUVALLUVAR There is a gold coin accidentally discovered in a box at Calcutta depicting a sage on the coverage and a five pointed star on the reverse. Iravatham Mahadevan, published a note on this coin identifying the seated sage as Tiruvaḷḷuvar; further he also speculated it should have been issued by Ellis, the famous Tamiḻ Scholar in the 18th century, this discovery has been hailed as greatest contribution to Tamiḻ history subsequently by writers. The coins is set to have been issued in Calcutta.
Bengal was a great Seat of Buddhism the Pāla rulers of Bengal have been the greatest patrons of Buddhism, and many personal names in Bengal speak of popularity of Buddha. Any one who knows the Iconography of Buddha can be immediately recognize the coin under discussion as that of Buddha, in what is called bhūmi sparśa mudrā. As this coin has been issued in Calcutta it seems to be a commemorative coin of Buddha. The coin set to have been issued by Ellis, but there is no evidence to connect Ellis with this coin. His name has been drawn only to make it an issue of Vaḷḷuvar commemorative issue.
