Lot 841

Tuticorin-Colombo, AV pagoda (3.35 g.) Obv. standing Vishnu / rev.: convex and granulated surface. Likely struck at Tuticorin or Colombo during 1760-1794. From about 1760 Porto Novo Pagodas of the new Negapatnam die (1747 issue) were struck at Tuticorin. (weight 3.406 g., fineness 0,800). These issues probably can't be distinguished from the Negapatnam issues. The fineness, as in Negapatnam, was decreased in 1767 to 0,769. During the period of the Anglo-Dutch war, the mint for precious metals was shifted from Tuticorin to Colombo (1780-1786). During this period Porto Novo Pagodas, with a fineness of 0,625, were struck at Colombo. After the mint at Tuticorin was re-established again (August 1786), the minting of Pagodas seems to have continued there till the closure of the mint in 1794. The low gold content indicates that this coin may have been struck at Colombo or during the period 1786-1794 at Tuticorin. Other than by the gold contents, there is no way to distinguish between the issues of either Negapatnam, Tuticorin or Colombo. aXF. Scho. 1259; Passon 48.1