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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Dutch United East India Company Coins

The history of Dutch coins in India it depicts that in a span of five years no less than sixty five Dutch vessels sailed to Indies. The private companies for trade with the East were formed in many parts of Holland but soon they were amalgamated by the State General into the United East India Company. The Company obtained in India a factory at Pulicat in 1609 and in 1616 they established themselves at Surat. Between 1661 and 1664 hey wrested from the Portuguese all their settlements on the pepper bearing coast of Malabar. By 1664, they possessed factories at Masulipattam and other places on the Coromandal coast at Hoogly, Cossimbazar and Dacca in Bengal, at Patna in Bihar, and at Surat, Ahmedabad and Agra in northern India, besides the seven stations in Malabar. Thus the Dutch had obtained a stronghold over Indian trade as far as the European market was concerned.

An extensive series of coins were struck for general circulation in the east by the Dutch East India Company at mints in their homeland itself. The provincial mints of Holland, Utrecht, Zeeland, Gelderland and Overysesel issued `Ducatoons` and these coins were popularly known as `silver riders`. The obverse side of the coins bore a cuirassier on horseback and the provincial monogram below with an inscription. The coins of the other provincial mints had the names of the State-General supported by two lions and below it there was the monogram `VOC` in an ornamental frame that represent the Company. Above the crown of the arm the date was etched and this side also includes an inscription.

Apart from issuing `Ducatoons`, three `Guilder`, one `Guilder` and half `Guilder` in silver were issued by four of the provinces. These coins were issued for the use of the Company. These coins contained the standing Pallas (later known as Neerlandia), the date and an inscription. The other side of the coin bore the arms of the State-General, the value, the monogram of the Company and an inscription followed by the name of the issuing province in an abbreviated form. In 1726, copper `Doits` were also issued for the company and half `Doits` in 1749.these coins contained the crowned shield of the issuing province on one side and the `VOC` monogram of the company on the other. In India these coins were current on the Coromandal coast and in Cochin.

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1752 TYPE-1

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1752 TYPE-2

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1753 TYPE-1

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1753 TYPE-2

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1754

DUTCH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY 1/2 DUIT YEAR 1755

DUTCH OCCUPATION - SWAMY PAGODA YEAR - 1642

Portuguese India Bank Notes & Coins



Portuguese Bank Notes



Indo-Portuguese 30 Escudos Observe


Indo-Portuguese 30 Escudos Reverse


Indo-Portuguese-1 Rupia-1924 Observe


Indo-Portuguese-1 Rupia-1924 Reverse


Indo-Portuguese-5 Rupia -Observe-1945 Observe


Indo-Portuguese-5 Rupia -Observe-1945 Reverse
Indo-Portuguese 10 Rupias Observe


Indo-Portuguese 10 Rupias Reverse


Indo-Portuguese 20 Rupias Observe


Indo-Portuguese 20 Rupias Reverse


Indo-Portuguese-50 Rupias - Observe


Indo-Portuguese-50 Rupias - Reverse


Indo-Portuguese-50 Rupias - Observe


Indo-Portuguese-50 Rupia - Reverse


Indo-Portuguese- 60 Escudos-1959 Observe


Indo-Portuguese- 60 Escudos-1959 Reverse
Indo-Portuguese-100 Rupia - Observe


Indo-Portuguese-100 Rupia - Reverse



Indo-Portuguese- 600 Escudos-1959 Observe


Indo-Portuguese- 600 Escudos-1959 Reverse




Portuguese Bank Notes Coins









French India Bank Notes

French India-1 Roupie-1923 Observe

French India-1 Roupie-1923 Reverse

French India-1 Roupie-1938 Observe

French India-1 Roupie-1938 Reverse

French India-5 Roupies-(1937) Observe

French India-5 Roupies-(1937) Reverse

French India-5Roupies-(1937) Observe

French India-5 Roupies -(1937) Reverse

French India-50 Roupies -(1936) Observe


French India-50 Roupies -(1936) Reverse