HPI
CHENNAI, INDIA: S. Kalyanaraman of Chennai writes to HPI that the four dots that are part of the “voided cross” (see yesterday’s HPI) on the latest Indian two-rupee coin are seen in some forms of the “Jerusalem cross.” This is a solid cross with equal arms (ie, a “plus” sign) with four smaller crosses set around the arms, and in one example, dots, just as the dots are on the rupee. See Wikipedia, here, and scroll down to “Crusaders’ cross” for an illustration. The description reads, “Also known as the Jerusalem cross. This cross was the symbol of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, which existed for almost two hundred years after the First Crusade. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel or the four directions in which the Word of Christ spread from Jerusalem. Alternately, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds of Christ during the Passion.”
Kalayanaraman also points out that the coin is close to the coin of “Louis the Pious,” shown on this website, here, which was made in the 8th century ce. The coin shows a solid cross with four dots set around it, similar to what is on the Indian rupee.