Ceylon 1790 duit
This specimen was lot 2503 in Stephen Album sale 45 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2023), where it sold for $510. The catalog description[1] noted, "CEYLON (DUTCH): duit, 1790, Dutch East India Company issue, better date, VF, RR. NOTE: Possibly a contemporary imitation. In our opinion the value should be similar either way." The Portuguese were the first Europeans to land in Ceylon and they quickly seized the coast but were unable to subdue the interior. The Dutch ousted the Portuguese in 1638 but were also unable to conquer the entire island. Fearing French control, the British occupied the Dutch holdings in 1796, which occupation was made permanent by the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. We don't know who thought it was a good idea to use lead for making coins, but this type was struck 1789-90.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: lead, 19.4 mm diameter, this specimen 5.62 g.
Catalog reference: KM-33.1.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 45, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2022.
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