Sri Lanka

Massa coins - video 

Ancient coinage in Lanka dates back to very early days as ther is historical evidence that Lanka traded with many nations and civilizations as it was known as Serendib by Arabs, Thaprobane by Greeks etc and there have been found ancient Roman coins and ancient Chinese pottery in archeological excavations.

Plonnaruwa Kingdom

The famous Lilavathi Massa, during the reign of Queen Lilavathi 1197–1200, 1209–1210, 1211–1212. 
 (Purchase #2) (200/-)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilavati_of_Polonnaruwa



Dambadeniya Kindom
During this period the Massa was the coinage with a common Obverse of a dancing figure.

This coin is a coin used during the rule of King Vijayabahu II (1236 AD - 1271AD) (Purchase #1) (200/-)

This coin is a King Buwanekabahu (1273AD - 1284 AD) era coin. (Purchase #1) (200/-)


Dutch Period
The Dutch occupied Sri Lanka for the spice trade, mainly Cinnamon. The Dutch used mainly two types of coins in Sri Lanka
Duits
Dumps

Duits were the coins minted in the Netherlands for the exclusive use by the VOC controlled colonies like Sri Lanka. The dumps were the coins minted in Sri Lankan centers such as Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee due to shortage of coins.

 Duit
prize Rs 125/-

 A priceless Dutch VOC Duit. It is dated 1737 and has the Dutch East India Company's famous VOC on it.
 The coin is in a fragile condition and needs to be stored with care. The edges are damaged by wear and tear. (Purchase #1)

 The court of arms of the Kingdom of Frisia is seen on the coin.

 UTRECHT Duit

The above Duit struck in 1790 has the VOC and the year on the reverse site. On the obverse side of the coin is the coat of arms of the city of Utrecht. (Purchase #1) 125/-
Bought another Utrecht Duit in Purchace #2

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utrecht

UTRECHT Half Duit

A 1754 half duit. (Purchase #2) (Rs 250)


GELDERLAND Duit

A 1790 Gelderland Duit. The VOC is covered by rust patch. 



 British Period and Independent Sri Lanka


before 1972 Sri Lanka was called Ceylon.

British coinage can be divided into two eras. Pre decimal coinage and decimal coinage.

This will be further explained by the following extract from lakdiva.com

http://lakdiva.com/coins/lanka_monetary.html

Sinhala Silver Fanam 

Fanams of Gold and Silver remained in circulation in the Kandyan kingdom for many years after the Dutch occupation of the coast.

SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination	One Fanam
Alloy	Silver
Type	Struck
Diameter	8. mm
Thickness	mm
Weight	0.363 gms
Shape	Round
Edge	Plain
DieAxis	O°

The design is that of the Malabar Vira raya fanam.
Obverse : An oval placed vertically and open at the top, with one dot inside and another outside to the left ; below this are two curved lines springing upwards and then curving downwards from two dots, with two rows of dots in the space so formed. It is derived from the massa standing figure, the open oval being the head and body, and the curved lines the outline of the legs and dhoti
Reverse : A thin horizontal line, bent upwards on the left, having two dots about the middle, from which rise two vertical lines ; below are three rows of dots, each of four. It may be the last stage of corruption of the sitting figure or perhaps of Nagari letters.

(http://coins.lakdiva.org/kotte/kotte_panama.html )  - edit 30/11/2014

ONE HALF STIVER 

Half Stiver copper coin struck at the Royal Mint for circulation in Ceylon.

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination Half Stiver Alloy Copper Diameter 22. mm Thickness 1.6 mm Weight 4.53 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis 180° Issue 2,400,000 Proof Mint Royal Mint

Obverse : Laur and draped bust to right. T.W. placed below the right shoulder. Around margin GEORGIUS III D:G : BRITANNIARUM REX
Reverse : Within plain rim an elephant facing left and above, CEYLON around rim; HALF STIVER in a single line; and below 1815.
The Stiver known in Sinhala Tuttuwa and in Tamil Tuddu was worth 3 Dutch challie (VOC Duits), and 4 English challie (1/2 Farthings). i.e. "Half Stiver" was of equal value to a British fathing of similar weight and size.

(http://lakdiva.com/coins/ceylon_government/1815_hst.html) - edit 30/11/2014



ONE STIVER (1/48 Rix Dollar) 

Alloy Copper Diameter 30.5 mm Thickness 1.7 mm Weight 10.08 gms Shape Round Edge Plain DieAxis 180° Issue 2,700,000 Proof Mint Soho Mint

Obverse : Within a circle of annulets between two plain circles an elephant facing left and year 1802 below.
Reverse : Within a circle of annulets between two plain circles; CEYLON.GOVERNMENT divided at top by cinquefoil (*). 48 the fractional value to the Rix-dollar at center within a cord circle.

(http://lakdiva.com/coins/ceylon_government/1802_f48rxd.html) (edit - 21/12/2014) (2750 LKR)



The coin Decimalisation in Ceylon happened in 1869.

Here are some coins that were used during colonial era (before 1948) and before Sri Lanka became a republic (between 1948 and 1972)


The following table shows the coins by the British monarch and the availability in my collection. 

Ruler	Denomination/Value
	¼Ct	½  Ct	1 Ct	2 Ct	5 Ct	10 Ct	25 Ct	50 Ct
Victoria (1869 – 1901)	√	√	X	X	√	X	√	X
Edward VII (1902- 1910)	X	√	√	X	√	√	X	X
George V	N/A	X	X	X	√	√	√	√
George VI	N/A	√	√	X	X	√	√	√
Elizabeth II	N/A	X	N/A	√	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

  1/4 Cent  

Year 1870, Queen Victoria (Purchase#6). Queen Victoria reigned from 1869- 1901 and this Quarter Cent coin is one year after ascending to the throne.

"A definitive decimal currency Quarter cent copper coin established by an Order in Council dated 1869 June 18th. Declared legal tender in Ceylon 1872 January 1st with limit of tender 5 Rupees. Demonetized by Order in Council dated 1909 October 18th with effect from 1910 July 1st." (http://coins.lakdiva.org/british_ceylon/victoria_1Qc.html) 

Material: Cu
Mass: 1.18g
Diameter: 14.3mm
Thickness:
Mint: Calcutta

1/2 Cent 

"A definitive decimal currency Half cent copper coin established by an Order in Council dated 1869 June 18th. Declared legal tender in Ceylon 1872 January 1st with limit of tender 5 Rupees. "
http://coins.lakdiva.org/british_ceylon/victoria_1hc.html

Queen Victoria
Year: 1895
Material: Cu
Mass: 2.36g
Diameter: 18.5mm
Thickness:
Mint: Calcutta

1 Cent

before 1948:

A 1908 1 cent coin I bought from Serendib's mint.(refer home page) (Purchase #1)

Year: 1908
Material: Cu
Mass: 4.72g
Diameter: 22.5mm

King George VI was the king of England in 1940

 1940

 1942

 1945

As the ruler of UK was King George VI his face is on the coin. At the back of the coin is the picture of a coconut tree.

The coin has "one cent" written in Sinhalese, Tamil and English.

between 1948 and 1972





After 1972

Note the new court of arms after 1972 when Ceylon became a republic and changed its name to Sri Lanka.

When comparing a 1 cent coin before independence and after I prefer the before one because it has more flavor to it. The new one looks cheaper and ha zero monetary or historical value. In fact 1 cent coins are no longer used in Sri Lanka, so are 2,5,10,25 and 50 cent coins.

2 Cents

 

5 Cents 
before 1948

Alloy	Copper
Diameter	34.0 mm
Thickness	mm
Weight	18.90 gms
Shape	Round
Edge	Plain
DieAxis	O°

                               

Obverse : Young Head of Victoria to left wearing a coronet ornamented with scrolls. A fret border broken by the legend VICTORIA QUEEN, along periphery. Initials of Mint C.MINT in relief on the truncation of the neck.
Reverse : A Talipot palm in the center with Left Sinhala sather paha; Right Tamil 5.Satam. CEYLON . FIVE . CENTS and year below along periphery.

 A 1909 5 Cents (Purchase #1)

Material: Cu - Ni
Mass: 2.88g
Diameter: 18.5mm
Thickness:
Mint: Royal Mint

(Purchase#6) King George V. Coin in pretty good condition unlike the above King Edward's coin where the King's face is worn off.

1948 - 1972

  

 

 After 1972

Notice the difference in the court of arms of each of the three 5 cent coins above. Before 1948 it was the head of King George VI, after that it was the court-of-arms of the government of Ceylon and after 1972 it was the government of Sri Lanka.

10 Cents 

King George V
Year: 1911
Material: Ag 800
Mass: 1.16g
Diameter: 15.5mm
Thickness:
Mint:
(Purchase#6)

Alloy	Silver
Diameter	15.5 mm
Thickness	1.0 mm
Weight	1.166 gms
Shape	Round
Edge	Grained
DieAxis	O°

25 Cents

A 25 cent coin of the year 1899 during Queen Victoria's reign. (Purchase#6)

(Purchase#6)

A 1951 25 cents coin. (cerendib's mint)  (Purchase #1)

Material: Ni - Brass
Mass: 2.754g
Diameter: 19mm
Thickness:
Mint: Calcutta & Bombay

50 Cents

Material: Ag 550
Mass: 5.83g
Diameter: 23.5mm
Thickness:
Mint: Royal

(Purchase#6)



Hear's a group photograph of King George V's 10,25 and 50 cent coins.

A 1951 50 cents. (Purchase #1)

Material: Ni - Brass

Mass: 5.508g

Diameter: 24mm

Thickness:

1 Rupee 

A good old Sri Lankan Rupee. It has been worn off due to extensive usage since 1982 as seen the damaged edges in the second image.

I took this coin from my wallet and added it into my coin in May 2012 just to complete my collection.


2 Rupee

A 7 sided Two Rupee coin. In commemoration of the 1976 non-aligned conference held in Colombo. The BMICH is shown of the coin. (Purchase #1)

A 1981 coin to commemorate the Mahaweli project

1995 coin in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Food and Agricultural Organization. The phrase FOOD FOR ALL is written in Sinhalese, Tamil and English. 



 5 Rupees

The memorial coin for the 50th anniversary of universal adult franchise 1931-1981.
The coin has 10 sides. The old parliament building is shown.
The coin is made of a mixture of Copper and Nickel 

                                                                Old Parliament building, Gall Face, Colombo, Sri Lanka.







The below is the 5 Rupee memorial coin for the 1976 Non Aligned conference held in Sri Lanka. 

This coin is made of pure Nickel and has 10 sides. The venue of the conference the BMICH (Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall) is shown on the coin. 

I have two of these coins and one from the 1981.

1994 5 Rupee

A commemorative 5 Rupee coin for the 2550th Buddha Jayanthi in 2006.




10 Rupee

A 2011, 10 Rupee coin.

References:
http://lakdiva.org