Portuguese India: Quarto Rupia, 1881

[Amitav]

Hi Everyone,
I have a Portugese Silver coin - Quarto Rupia - 1881 and its in very excellent condition but would like more suggestions..

[Figleaf]

Welcome to WoC Amit. There's much of interest here, so I hope you will look around on the site. I have two suggestions for you.

- Coin collectors describe their coins with fixed terms. They do not use "very excellent". Depending on who you ask, your coin would be described as "fine". To learn more about grading coins, click here.

- You should quickly change your handle (it now starts with amit"), as criminals can "harvest" your email address and sell it to spammers, who will make your life difficult. To change your handle, click on it, select the tag "modify profile" (top left) and change the content of the field labelled "Name".

Peter

[Amitav]

I have read the message pretty late and I have updated the name as suggested. I humbly thank for the guidance and support. Thanks with respect.

[Figleaf]

Coins are fun teachers. The side with the head of your coin shows a renaissance style natural portrait in a legend in latin: LUDOVICUS.I.PORTUGaliae:ET.ALGARBiae:REX and the date •1881•. The side with the crowned arms on a wreath has a legend in Portuguese: INDIA PORTUGUEZA and •QUARTO DE RUPIA•, the denomination.

The denomination is the only Indian element. Quarter rupees circulated since centuries. Even the weight of 2.9 grams was roughly correct. Every other element is European. India did not use renaissance rules in art, did not use latin letters, the latin or the Portuguese language, did not use arms, crowns or the laurel wreath as a symbol of victory. The few Portuguese colonialists were secure in their power in a sea of Indians.

Those colonialists were not free to act, though. The sub-continent was a huge British colony, with Portuguese India being a tiny enclave only. This is reflected in te coin. Its weight and silver content were exactly the same as the coins of British India: British Indian silver coins could freely circulate in Portuguese India. That was important, as India was on the silver standard. The British controlled the economy of Portuguese India. There was a hierarchy even among the colonisers.

Peter

[Amitav]

Thank you...I really appreciate your elaborate reply and guidance...Namashkar !!

[Abhay]

More information can be found here:   https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22389.html

Abhay