Roman coins have been discovered at various archaeological sites in Sri Lanka, indicating trade connections between the Roman Empire and the island. The most significant findings include coins dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries CE.
The discovery of Roman coins is significant as it suggests that Sri Lanka was part of a broader trade network that extended across the Indian Ocean. The island’s valuable commodities, such as spices and gemstones, attracted traders from distant lands. It is likely that Roman merchants used these coins for trade, indicating interactions between the Roman world and South Asia.
During ancient times, Roman merchant ships utilised the monsoon winds to travel to South India and engage in trade with the Tamil kingdoms of the Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras. The Romans would carry goods such as wine, gold glassware, and silver, and purchase pepper, pearls, ivory, and possibly even tigers to take back to Rome. There is also a record of a temple built for Augustus in the Chera port city of Muziris, as depicted in the 4th-century Greek merchant guide named the Periplus Maris Erythraei. Given this historical context, it is reasonable to assume that the Romans may have also travelled to Sri Lanka and established trade links with the Sinhalese Kingdoms.
Even before the time of Emperor Claudius, Sri Lanka came to be known as one of the most distant and inaccessible lands on earth for the Romans. While Indian accounts attest to a large island on the Southeast coast of India known as ‘Tamrapani’, which means copper-coloured leaf, the first Latin text mentioning Sri Lanka comes from the poet Ovid, who was banished from Rome and was living in the Thracian town of Tomis (modern-day Constanta in Romania). Ovid writes, “I cannot believe that any exponent of my interests would come here (to Tomis). It gives me no advantage if my works are still read or more surprisingly give pleasure (in Rome). What use would it be to me if I am praised in hot Syene or Taprobane surrounded by the Indian Sea?
Great amounts
During the time of Augustus, Strabo writes, “Taprobane sends great amounts of ivory, tortoiseshell and other merchandise to the markets of India. Ptolemy (100-170 CE) who drew a world map and the map of Taprobane wrote about Sri Lanka in his records. He mentioned that Sri Lanka traded transparent stones, pearls, tortoise shells, rice, ginger, honey, beryl and other metals as well as elephants and tigers. According to Strabo, these goods were brought to the Indian market and Greek merchants didn’t come directly to Sri Lanka, but bought them via intermediaries from India.
From Ptolemy’s maps, however, we can assume that Sri Lankan trade had a significant standing among other countries, and renowned among foreigners in the second century CE. Much later, during the time of the Periplus, Roman merchants received goods from the Sinhalese through Tamil intermediaries, such as ivory, pearls, gemstones, cotton clothes, and tortoiseshell. Pliny also states that “to procure pearls, Indians go to the islands, the most productive of which is Sri Lanka.” In Pliny’s records, he mentioned the arrival of the embassy from Sri Lanka to Rome named ‘Rachias’ during the period of Claudius who reigned from 41 to 54 CE.
Roman coins arrived in Sri Lanka through trade routes that connected the Roman Empire to the Indian subcontinent. Merchants and travellers may have brought these coins with them, either as currency or as souvenirs. Roman trade in ancient Sri Lanka was part of a vibrant network that connected the Mediterranean world with South Asia. From around the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE, Sri Lanka was an important hub for trade, especially due to its strategic location along maritime routes like the Silk Route and the spice route.
The Roman Spice Route was a vital trade network that connected the Mediterranean with Asia, facilitating the exchange of valuable commodities like spices, silk, and other luxury goods. Sri Lanka, known as “Taprobane” in ancient texts, was a key player in this network, particularly for its renowned spices. Ancient writers such as Pliny the Elder mentioned the importance of Sri Lanka in the spice trade, highlighting its role in the larger context of Roman commerce.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean made it a crucial stop for traders. Its ports, such as Mantai and Trincomalee, served as important hubs for maritime trade. One of the key exports for the Romans was spices like cinnamon, which was heavily featured in Roman cuisine and medicine. Other spices such as cardamom and pepper were also traded, enhancing the island’s reputation as a centre for spice trade in the ancient world. The Maritime Silk Road was another possible route for Roman coins to reach Sri Lanka. The Maritime Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected the Roman Empire with China and other parts of Asia.
Types of coins
Sri Lanka had close historical ties with the Indian subcontinent, and it is possible that Roman coins were brought to the island through trade routes that connected Sri Lanka with India. Arab traders were also active in the region during the Roman era, and they may have played a role in transporting Roman coins to Sri Lanka.
Some of the Roman coins found in Sri Lanka came directly from Rome, while others were minted in Sri Lanka itself. They were widely circulated, indicating significant trade between Sri Lanka and the Roman Empire, mostly in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Some of the coins appear worn out due to increased circulation. The exportation of goods to Rome resulted in many Roman gold coins in the island, which were replicated in bronze and circulated widely. Many such coins have been uncovered in places such as Hambantota, Tissamaharama, Mannar, Galle, Matara, Jaffna, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Mantai, Anuradhapura, Kelaniya, Badulla, Mihintale, and Sigiriya.
Following excavations, it was revealed tha coins similar to the ones found in Sri Lanka have also been uncovered in India, suggesting that Roman trade contacts were present in both countries. According to Historian Osmund Bopearachchi, over 200,000 Sri Lankan minted Roman copper coins were located in coin hoards from Baragama (30,000), Hungama (20,000) and in money boxes from Ridiyagama and Tissamaharama. From an excavation conducted in Ridiyagama in 1995, which was believed to be an ancient settlement, archaeologists discovered many Roman coins which may have been a thriving port similar to the Godawaya port. The sheer immensity of the number of coins is evidence that the Roman Empire was a significant trading partner to ancient Sri Lanka.
Annius Plocamus, a Roman tax collector, played a significant role in encouraging direct trade and initiating first contact between the Roman Empire and ancient Sri Lanka. The Romans had prior knowledge of the island, known to the Greeks as Taprobane. However, it was during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41–54 CE) that the two civilisations first made contact. A freedman of Annius Plocamus, while sailing along the coast of Arabia, was driven by Northern monsoon winds to the port of Hippuros, which is now known as Kudiramalai in the Northernmost point in the Puttalam District. He was well received by the Sri Lankan monarch and acquired a thorough knowledge of Tamil during his six-month stay. The freedman’s account of the Romans and their emperor, along with the quality of Roman minted coins he possessed, led the Sinhalese king to send an embassy to learn more about the Romans.
Several emperors
According to Pliny, the Sinhalese king was impressed by the Romans’ honesty, especially by the fact that the denarii were all equal in weight, despite being coined by several emperors. This factor attracted his friendship. The Romans who reached Sri Lanka used the seasonal Northeast monsoon to return to the Empire the following November. A delegation of four Sinhalese envoys also went to Rome to meet Emperor Claudius. Archaeological evidence, including the discovery of Roman-style artefacts and inscriptions, further supports the idea of cultural exchanges and economic links during this period. Coins serve as a tangible reminder of the historical connections between the two ancient civilisations.
The discovery of Roman coins in Sri Lanka serves as a testament to the island’s integral role in ancient trade networks that spanned the Indian Ocean, connecting distant civilisations. These coins highlight the economic interactions and cultural exchanges between the Roman Empire and Sri Lanka, providing valuable insights into trade practices, local economies, and socio-political dynamics of the time. As tangible remnants of a vibrant past, these coins continue to inspire research and exploration, shedding light on the interconnectedness of the ancient world and Sri Lanka’s significance in global history.
