Lot 634

Rupee 9.82 g., Colombo, 1787. Struck by resolution of 12 May 1787. Owing to the high price of silver it was decided to reduce the weight of the Rupees and to strike a small quantity for internal use. As there was no assayer attached to the mint at Colombo they were tested by the sworn assayer and given the small hall-mark on the edge of a mango tree with a dove (columbus) on it, between K -K ("Kleine Keur"). These were really emergency coins of which reportedly 20.000 were struck. Obv.: Wang / Walland / Kompani / Kolombu (Coin of the Dutch Company, Colombo) / rev.: Puqu djazirat / Sailung / 1787 (Money of the Island Ceylon). R3 XF. Ref.: Scho. 1262; Passon 53.3; MPO May 2015, lot no. 2309.