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KOYIKKAL PALACE: Centuries old koyikkal palace in Nedumangad near Thiruvananthapuram houses Kerala’s first numismatic study centre and folk lore museum.

History: The palace is believed to be the HQ of the perakathaivazhi, one of the branches of the Thruppappur the rulers of Travancore. Udayamarthanda Varma the ruler of Venad was adopted from Perakathaivazhi.

It was in this palace that Umayammarani took refugee when her son Aditya Varma was poisoned and the confederates suffocated the other princes. (There are other versions to this incident as well.) As there was no male member, Umayammarani became the Regent.
Finding the palace unsafe she moved to Koyikkal Palace. She invited Kerala Varma from Kottayam, and related to the Travancore royal family.
When her only son attained 16, the new sovereign had no new difficulty in governing. The family adopted two male and two females from Kolathunad.

Numismatic museum:_
In 1979, the Archaeology department, took over the palace, and was in a dilapidated condition. It was converted into a numismatic museum in 1990.

The collections:- Due to inadequate safety measures the visitors finds only the photographs of very old coins. Few Roman coins displayed here reveal, the socio cultural history of our ancestors.
From the third century BC onwards, brisk trade was carried out between India and the West. As a result of heavy inflow of Roman coins, they found way to all parts of the country. Roman Denarius(SILVER) and Aureus (GOLD) were circulated in Kerala. As gold was rare and costly people hoarded them.

Numerous coins were unearthed from Kottaym in 1842, Iyyal near Vadakkancherry in 1945, kumbalam in 1974, and valluvally in 1983. The first Indian metal currency that came into circulation after the end of the barter system was part of the Iyyal hoard.
The Roman Gold coins cover the periods of Emperors, who Ruled Rome, from AD14 TO AD 180-NAMELY-Tibenius, Claudius, Nero, Vespanian, Titus, Dominitier, Nerva, Trojan, Hadrianus, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurilius.


Muziris :_it is one of the ancient sea ports of Malabar. Pliny described it as the Premium Emporium India. Exports from this port were pepper, pearls, and ivory, silk, spikenard, precious stones, pottery, and glass wares.

The first reference of a minted coin called Rasi was minted and circulated through out the kingdom that spanned from capecomorin to gokarnam.

According to Sarojini Amma, the numismatist, the half chukram which was circulated in Kerala is the smallest coin in the world. Here the numismatics does not get the significance it deserves and hence a lot of information regarding history remains unknown she added.

The earliest silver coinage of ancient India is named as punch marked coins. These coins have uneven edges. It is for adjusting the actual weight the edges was clipped. It is believed that these coins dates posterior to Indo-Scythic dynasties in Bactira.
The chamun huzuri hoard in Kabul clarified that these punch marked coins were actually in currency in the 5th century BC.Buddhist literatures and Jataka tales refer to these coins. All the imperial coins conform to one weight. The coins that appear in fresh in mint conditions and bear no wear and tear weighs 51 to 54 grains.

The Lekshmi Varaha Panam and Parvathi Rupah too are displayed here. These tow coins were issued by Rani PARVATHI Bayi aunt of Swati Tirunal (1815-1829). As per the agreement the Travancore rulers were could issue only half rupee. Parvathi rupah was of one rupee denomination and hence banned. Rama Varma coin issued by Ayilyam Tirunal the first machine mint coin too finds a place in this palace.

The palace has in its display the weights and measures, namely the tholas, and different types of balances. Utensils of different shapes sizes belonging to different periods offer interesting viewing. Hurricane lamps, tholppava, kummatti, jewel boxes, life size images of thullal forms. Musical instruments like chandravalayam used in Ramakatha pattu, nanthuni, potters wheel, carts, antiques from Vellanad temple the anklet of the oracle reveal the customs, beliefs, life styles, and entertainment aspects of our ancestors.