✅ SOLVED Indian Gold Coin?

[Red-Coat]

This came out of the shallows on a Sri-Lankan beach some years ago, but I've never identified it.



It's tiny... about 5/16" (8mm) in diameter, saucer-shaped (ie not flat) and more gold-coloured than it looks in the pictures. Although there is a little spot of verdigris on one side, I think the general lack of corrosion suggests it is actually gold or gold alloy.

There are lots of wrecks off the coast of this particular beach... mostly merchantmen relating to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from the 17th Century. I know there are many obscure 'Indo-" coins, some of which are tiny gold ones and used in trade, but I don't know where to start on this one.

One of you fine folks will know, I'm sure.

 

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[Mackaydon]

It appears to be a Sri Lanka or South India FANAM gold coin.
Don.......

 

[Mackaydon]

Also check out Cochin gold coins.
Don....

 

[JamieD]

Mackaydon has it I think. Viraraya fanam looks close design wise:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces32543.html

Come in gold, debased gold and silver so yours could be any.

 

[Red-Coat]

Thanks Guys

I can’t find an exact match, and it seems there is also a possibility of it being a Dutch Cochin gold ‘Fanam’, current between 1782-1791. As I understand it, these were produced by Dutch traders in imitation of Southern Indian/Sri-Lankan Fanams.

I have some silver currency items from the same location which are Dutch imitations of much earlier Persian currency. It seems that Dutch traders often made these kinds of imitations as a way of improving acceptance by the ‘locals’ in trade. That is, the bullion content/value of the items was honest, but they proved to be more readily accepted if presented in familiar forms or styles.

 

[Red-Coat]

I'm marking this solved, even though we haven't got an exact match. Thanks all, but feel free to add any further thoughts.