Ceylon (1823) 4 fanams
This specimen was lot 1365 in Stephen Album sale 41 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2021), where it sold for $390. The catalog description[1] noted, "CEYLON: George IV, 1820-1830, AR 1/3 rixdollar, ND [1823], countermarked crown on Madras Presidency Arcot ¼ rupee (KM-413), a few small reverse scratches, light toning, EF on VF-EF host. The persistent coin shortage led to a special import of East India Company's Madras "Arcot" quarter rupees. To retain these coins in local circulation, they were countermarked with a crown. They were declared current by local proclamations dated March 22, 1823 to pass at 1/3 rixdollar or 4 fanams." This mix of stivers and rixdollars was inherited by the British from the Dutch, who occupied the island until 1796. Decimal coinage was instituted in 1870. Ceylon attained her independence in 1948 after the British left India and is now known as Sri Lanka.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: host coin: 2.91 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KM-85, Prid-25.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 41, featuring the Dick Nanta Collection of Giray Khans, Part II, the Charles Opitz Collection of Ethnographic Money, Part II, and the Allan F. Pacela Collection of Chinese Coins. Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2021.
Link to:
- Ceylon 1821 rixdollar
- Ceylon (1823) 2/3 rixdollar c/m on a Madras Presidency Arcot ½ rupee
- Ceylon (1823) 16 fanams = 1⅓ rixdollar, c/m on a Madras rupee
- Coins and currency dated 1823