The emergence of Vijayanagar empire saw a new phase of coinage in south India.

One of the
contributions of the Vijayanagar empire was the remarkable improvement in the currency system in
south India, completely changing the scarcity of coins that existed prior to its period.

The Eastern Gangas were a dynasty who ruled Kalinga (mostly modern Orissa) from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
They were the builders of the famous Konarak Sun Temple, a World Heritage Site, and the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Their only known coins are a series of gold fanams of just under 0.50 gm and some rare quarter fanams. So far, no
one has been able to attribute these coins to individual kings.
The Kadambas were an ancient ruling family of Karnataka, who had founded the first indigenous Kannadiga kingdom
in Banavasi in the 4th century. That kingdom lasted for some 200 years, but eventually came under the Chalukyas of
Badami, becoming their feudatories. It appears that the family may have remained in this position of vassalage to
the Chalukyas of Badami and then to the Rashtrakutas. Then, in the late 10th century,

INDIAN COINS. GUPTA COINAGE. Samudragupta, c. 335-380. Dinar. AV 7.63 g. Tiger-slayer type. King standing l.,
wearing ceremonial turban and dhoti, drawing his bow and aiming at an open mouthed tiger which rears up in front of
him as he tramples on it, legend Vyaghraparakramah at r., crescent above lion's head.

The name of octopus-men has been given to this type of coins by some historical nitwit. It is the same as calling
Persian or Arabic spaghetti-script. When Rajaraja Chola invaded Ceylon (c.990) he adopted the indigenous coin type
of the gold kahavanu, initiated shortly before by the Singhalese. This coin type became, under the Singhalese
resistance, rather widespread to pay for the opposition against the Cholas. The kahavanu is a gold coin of a seated
king, with a legend, Sri Lamka Vibhu (the victorious Lord of Ceylon) below his raised arm. The reverse shows a
standing king with ancillary
symbols.