Baldwin's Hong Kong Coin Auction
Auction 60 7 April 2016
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
COINS, 錢幣, INDIA – PORTUGUESE INDIA, 印度 - 葡屬, Unknown Location, probably Ceylon: Silver 2-Tangas, Goa, 16xx (1641-55), Obv countermarked with R (unlisted by Scholten, though he does list the "R" mark on a coin also countermarked for Jaffna, Sch 1287; Gomes 17.0x). Coin very fine, countermark extremely fine, rare.
In his paper published in De Beeldenaar (1996-5, pp.196-200), Jan Lingen proposes a possible explanation for the R countermark and states that it was used without doubt in Ceylon. He also surmises that it was used by the Dutch, but he can find no documentary confirmation in the archives. He does not think it is the initial of a person or a place, so what can it mean? Alongside the Portuguese silver coins were circulating silver Larins. The Singhalese name for these is ridi. The Larin is approximately the same weight as the Portuguese 2-Tangas. It is possible that the R applied to 2-Tanga coins is to indicate parity with the ridi or Larin.
Portuguese Indian coins countermarked by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for use in their colonies in Ceylon
Estimate: US$400-500
In his paper published in De Beeldenaar (1996-5, pp.196-200), Jan Lingen proposes a possible explanation for the R countermark and states that it was used without doubt in Ceylon. He also surmises that it was used by the Dutch, but he can find no documentary confirmation in the archives. He does not think it is the initial of a person or a place, so what can it mean? Alongside the Portuguese silver coins were circulating silver Larins. The Singhalese name for these is ridi. The Larin is approximately the same weight as the Portuguese 2-Tangas. It is possible that the R applied to 2-Tanga coins is to indicate parity with the ridi or Larin.
Portuguese Indian coins countermarked by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for use in their colonies in Ceylon
Estimate: US$400-500