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Auction: 21125 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 11: Indian & Islamic Coins
Lot: 7186

Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Dutch Colony, occupation coinage (c. 1660-1720), AE Stuiver, ½-Stuiver, ¼-Stuiver, (KM 17, 18.1, 19.3; Cod. 123, 126; Sch. 1290, 1291, 1309), the first and third fine, the second very fine, contemporary copy of a Portuguese Indian, 2-Tanga, as used in Sri Lanka (similar KM 59; Cod. 110), good fine, Dutch India, Negapatnam, Duit, undated, Tamil legend (KM 25; Sch. 1245), good fine; Netherlands, Groningen and Ommeland, Province, Stuiver (2), 1684 (KM 36), the first about fine, the second poor; Denmark, Christian V (1670-99), 2-Skilling, 1681 (KM 358), good fine; a base metal kahavanu of medieval Sri Lanka, unidentified, poor, including a letter with diagrams and rubbings of these coins, sent by their then owner, N. G. Campbell of Nuwara Eliya to H.W. Codrington, Assistant Government Agent in Kegalla, and his handwritten reply identifying the coins, dated 4th March 1913 (coins 9, documents 2)

Quite apart from the value of the coins themselves, this lot is peculiar in capturing a moment in history. The coins had been recently purchased by Mr Campbell, a tea planter of Nuwara Eliya. As can be seen, the coins are offered with the correspondence concerning their identification.
His correspondent, Mr H. W. Codrington, is of course famous for having later written 'Ceylon Coins and Currency' (published by Richards, Government Printer, Ceylon, 1924), which is still a standard reference work on the subject today.


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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£110