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Synopsis Kerala is far behind other states in the field of numismatic studies. The relative scarcity of early and medieval coins, except Roman coins, could certainly be mentioned as a major contributory factor leading to this failure. This phenomenon has been explained by Mitchiner in terms of geographical traits, referring to monsoon floods, encroachment of the sea etc. Though this is true, we are also forced to recognize that no serious large scale archaeological excavation has been undertaken on the coastal harbor sites like Muciri (Kodungallur), tondi (Kadalundi, Quilandy), Kollam, Ezhilmalai, Varkala, vizhinjam etc. The State Department of Archaeology is not yet equipped for major archaeological operations, and the Archaeological Survey of India had been following, for various reasons, a step motherly attitude to Kerala.