| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Denomination | Tanga |
| Alloy | Silver |
| Type | Struck |
| Diameter | 16. mm |
| Thickness | _._ mm |
| Weight legal | 2.19 gms |
| Weight | 2.35 gms |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Smooth |
| DieAxis | _____° |
| Mint | Colombo |
| CounterMark | Galle |
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| Codrington PL 118 ; Scholten 1271 ; KM #54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codrington illustrates in PL-118 the GALL monogram on a coin of this same type.
In accordance to a resolution of the Galle Council dated 1655 April 19th, Indo-Portuguese coins current at rate of 10, 6, and 5 stuivers were countermarked with a round stamp representing a monogram composed of letters GALL after they were tested by competent goldsmiths and declared genuine. A large number of counterfeits were in circulation at the time. Codrington (IX:5,p.109) states the tanga was 5 Stuivers and the 6 Stuivers seems to be the heavier Malacca Type.
Gampola Hoard No 3.29 -- 3.20 grams.
Illustrated in Scholten (1271) which list it as extremely rare (RRR).
In Grogan section on Ceylon the Tanga is Illustrated with a VOC/C countermarked (1320) -- 16 mm and 2.38 grams.
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.