1521 - 1557 - Portuguese Ceilão
Copper - Eighth Bazaruco - Cross

The copper Eighth Bazaruco with a Cross visible on both sides struck probably in Colombo, fort São Lourenço for circulation in Ceilão, and attributed to the reign of D. João III, (1521-1557).

SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination1/8 Bazaruco
AlloyCopper
TypeStruck
Diameter6/7 mm
Thickness_._ mm
Weight mean0.375 gms
Weight0.32 gms
ShapeElliptical
EdgeSmooth
DieAxis_____°
MintCeilão
 J3_01.01-03_obverse J3_01.01-03_reverse
Codrington Unlisted ; Gomes J3:01.01/03 ; KM unlisted
Obverse : Cross of Christ in line circle
Reverse : maybe Cross_L monogram(?) perhaps signifying fort São Lourenço, in line circle.

Gomes provides a weight range of 0.25-0.50 gm for the 1/8 Bazaruco. The weight of the Bazaruco differed considerable, depending on material, location of the factory and period.
The design is like 1/4 Bazaruco in Mitchiner #2155.
However the Monogram on reverse appears to me to have a curved loop unlike the Cross_L.

Text from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
  Chapter VIII Portuguese - Plate xxx. Page xxx
* The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories- 1601-1948
  C. Scholten, 1953, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman. page xxx-xxx
* Moedas Portuguesas 1128-1988, by Alberto Gomes. Lisbon 1987
* Collection Henry Thomas Grogan, J. Schulman, Auction 23-02-1914.
* Non-Islamic and Western Colonies since 600 AD by by Michael Mitchiner.

I thank Jan Lingen who kindly sent me the 300 dpi scans of these rare coin from his collection and are displayed at xxx dpi.