Vijayanagara Empire | Gold Bele Artifacts ” reinforcing the authority of

” reinforcing the authority of the emperor

and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts in diplomacy and human rights

One authentic Alexander the Great Tetradrachm as shown

but at great financial cost to the empire

Vijayanagara Empire | Gold Bele Artifacts ” reinforcing the authority ofHistory of the Artifact This solid gold coin, known as a bele (often called a pagoda in later numismatic literature), was issued by the Vijayanagara Empire between the 14th and 17th centuries, with production centred on the imperial capital at Hampi. Struck to an extraordinarily small and precise weight standard, the bele is widely regarded as the smallest gold coin ever regularly issued. The obverse typically depicts Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu