View source for Ceylon (1823) 2/3 rixdollar

[[Image:SA50-1511.jpg|550px|thumb|Stephen Album sale 50, lot 1511]]

This specimen was lot 1511 in Stephen Album sale 50 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $6,000. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "CEYLON: George IV, 1820-1830, AR 2/3 rixdollar, ND (1823), countermarked royal crown on Madras Presidency Arcot 1/2 rupee (KM-413), EF on VF host, RRR, ex Solar Collection. The persistent coin shortage led to a special import of East India Company's Madras 'Arcot' half 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 2/3 rixdollar or 8 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'': silver.

''Catalog reference'': KM-, Prid-. 

''[[Bibliography|Sources]]'': 
* Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
* <sup>[1]</sup>Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, ''Auction 50, featuring selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection, the Hakim Hamidi Collection, the Almer H. Orr III Collection and the Solar Collection'', Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.

''Link to:''
* [[Ceylon (1823) 4 fanams]] = ⅓ rixdollar, c/m on Madras ¼ rupee
* [[Ceylon (1823) 16 fanams]] = 1⅓ rixdollar, c/m on a Madras rupee
* [[Coins and currency dated 1823]]

[[Category:Selections from Stephen Album sale 50]]