Indo-Dutch, Negapatnam Mint, Gold Pagoda, Obv: Lord Venkateswara standing facing front, with the characteristic lazy “J” to the left, Rev: field of granulated dots. (KM #22), centrally struck, with a partial dotted border visible, and exhibiting pleasing overall detail, struck in high relief, graded & slabbed by PCGS as MS 63, Very Rare in this grade.

Negapatnam on the Coromandel Coast, was an important Dutch trading centre and became the headquarters of Dutch Coromandel in the late seventeenth century. Its gold pagodas reflect the continuation of South Indian monetary traditions under European trading powers. The standing figure of Lord Venkateswara, accompanied by the characteristic “lazy J” and a reverse covered with granulated dots, distinguishes this attractive type. The use of a Hindu deity on a Dutch issue illustrates the enduring influence of local coin designs within the region’s commercial economy. Centrally struck in high relief and graded MS 63 by PCGS, the present specimen combines pleasing detail with excellent preservation, making it a distinguished addition to a collection of Indo-Dutch coinage.