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Auction: 21125 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 11: Indian & Islamic Coins
Lot: 7215

Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Portuguese Colony, Tangas (2), 2.16, 2.17g, the first with date not visible, the second (164)2, arms between G - A (for Goa), rev. Tanga monogram between D - S, the first with obverse countermark "R" (Ceylon, KM 9.2; Gomes 15.01), generally very good to about fine, the countermark good fine, this scarce (2)

provenance
Part of a collection of coins formed by Mr Campbell, a tea planter of Nuwara Eliya in the early 20th century. He regularly correspondeded with Mr H. W. Codrington (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. Codrinton mentions that a hoard of coins of this type were being offered in Ceylon in 1913 and it is likely that these coins were part of this find.

It is unsure what the letter "R" stands for. Codrington acknowledges it as known countermark (p.102):
"The countermarks found on the Portuguese coins are three:-
i) The monogram GALE (Galle)
ii) The monogram of the Dutch East India Company, either plain, or surmounted by C (Colombo) or by I (Jaffna)
iii) The letter R."

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Sold for
£480

Starting price
£110