Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Ceylon - AE Massa, Queen Lilavati, 1197-1212 AD.

Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, Ceylon - AE Massa, Queen Lilavati, c. 1197-1215 AD.
20mm, 4.01gm, axis: 6h
Obv: King seated facing.
Rx: Sanskrit inscription, King standing to left.
Although very similar to the coins of the Cholas, and the so-called "Kandy Kings", the Kingdom of Polonnaruwara ejected the Cholas from Celon and significantly predated the Kingdom of Kandy. Thanks to Deven Kane for the following explanation and expatiation on the subject:
"I believe this coin is Queen Lilavati who was chief queen to Parakramabhau I the great and then had three short reigns in her own right ( 1197–1200, 1209–1210, and 1211–1212 ) in the anarchy following her husband's death. As such she is one of the rare reigning female rulers in the subcontinent with coins in her name."
See http://lakdiva.org/.../medievallanka/1197_1211_lilavati.html
(Lehman collection)
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