Dutch India Coins

Dutch India

The Dutch settled at Pulicat in 1610 and opened their mint in Fort Geldria during 1615. Gold pagodas were recorded in 1693 as being struck there and these Pulicat pagodas appear to be identical with the so-called Porto Novo pagodas of "One Swami" type. The Dutch, like the English, obtained permission from the pageant Vijayanagar monarch residing at Chandragiri to strike pagodas after the manner of his own products. The English obtained such permission in 1640 from the local nayaka and this was confirmed by Sriangaraya of Chandragiri in 1645. Dutch permission was probably acquired at much the same date. Early English and Dutch pagodas of "One Swami" type have little to differentiate them from Vijayanagar prototypes.

AU "new Porto Nova pagoda" 1747- 1787 (Negapatnam, Tuticorin, Colombo) (1670 - 1784) Obv.: Formalized full length figure of the deity Rev.: Granulated raised surface. 3,39 gram. "Porto Novo" pagodas of this type were struck at Pulicat, Negapatam and Madras. Mitchener 1979, 1594. S. Scholten 1229 *Read more about the pagoda*
AU "new Porto Nova pagoda" 1747- 1787 (Negapatnam, Tuticorin, Colombo) (1670 - 1784) Obv.: Formalized full length figure of the deity Rev.: Granulated raised surface. 3,37 gram. "Porto Novo" pagodas of this type were struck at Pulicat, Negapatam and Madras. Mitchener 1979, 1594. S. Scholten 1229
Au Tuticorin, fanam ca. 1743 - 1794, 0,34 grams, 5,8-6,2 mm Obv.: Formalised human figure of Tanjore type of Kali figure. Rev.: Degenerated legend in Nagari characters, but the first letter of both lines R A sawshaped. S.Scholten 1257

Negapatnam 1657 - 1784

Au fanam, 0,34 grams, 4,5 mm Obv.: Formalized human figure of Tanjore type. Rev.: Degenerated legend in Nagari characters in two lines, but the first letter of both lines are vertical lines (Sawshaped on the Tuticorin fanam). S.Scholten 1233b The Dutch received their privilege to strike coins first in 1662. They got the minting rights from Tanjore and derived the design of their Negapatam fanams from those being struck at Tanjore.
Ae double stuiver ND, 55,6 gram, 27,5 - 28,5 mm ca. 1658-1700 Obv.: Formalized human figure of Tanjore type of Kali figure Rev.: NAKaPaDdaNaM in Tamil Mitchener 1979, 1605-6, KM 29, Scholten 1243 Although they bore the name of Negapatam they were intended principally for ceylon.
Ae stuiver ND, 24,71 gr, 21-23 mm ca. 1657 - 1700 Obv.: Formalized human figure of Tanjore type of Kali figure or the “standing king“ of earlier Chola-Pandya coinage. Rev.: NAKaPaDdaNaM in Tamil Mitchener 1979, 1607. KM 28, Scholten 1244 Although they bore the name of Negapatam they were intended principally for ceylon.

Lead cash ND, ca. 1700-1784, 3,51 grams, 13,5-14,2 mm (2 or 4 cash?) Mitchener say 4 cash, but I think it is wrong. Copper and lead do not have the same value after weight. Obv.: Mint initial N above Company VOC monogram. Rev.: Two line Tamil legend citing mint NAKaPa DdaNaM Mitchener 1979 - 1611, Scholten 1242

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Last updated 01-07-01 by Uno Barner Jensen