Goa 1643-G A 2 tangas
This specimen was lot 73648 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2023), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Portuguese India. Goa. 2 Tangas, 1643. Goa Mint. Joao IV. NGC VF-30. Though the surfaces and details are somewhat murky, as is common for this crude issue, the present example shows a strong figure of Saint John and a clear date." The Portuguese were the first European power to make direct contact with India. They concentrated on trade but were not above piracy or political meddling if the opportunity arose. They conquered or dominated a good part of India in the sixteenth century but gradually had to yield to others, especially the British. By the nineteenth century, Portuguese holdings were limited to Diu, Damao and Goa. Each had a mint which struck hammered coinage until the 1860's. This type was struck 1642-43 and 1649-56.
Recorded mintage: unknown but rare.
Specification: 4.4 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-68; Gomes-17.03.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Alberto Gomes and Francisco Antonio Magro, Moedas Portuguesas e do Território Que Hoje é Portugal: Catálogo das Moedas Cunhadas para o Continentes e Ilhas Adjacentes, para os Territórios do Ultramar e Grão-Mestres Portugueses da Ordem de Malta, 6ª Edição, Lisbon: Associação Numismática de Portugal, 2013.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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