1783 - 1793 - Ceilon
Jaffna VOC - Two Stuiver

Two Stuivers VOC copper dump coins from Dutch Mint at Jaffna in accordance with the Resolution of 1783 March 13th.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationTwo Stuiver
AlloyCopper
TypeStruck
Diameter26. mm
Thickness mm
Weight Legal26.70 gms
Shaperound
EdgeDump
DieAxis
MintJaffna
scholten_1324c.jpg
Schloten 1324c; Mitchiner #2199; Krause #29

Obverse : I (Jaffna) above VOC monogram between Annulets; Value 2.S. below.
Reverse : Year 1783; Annulet O above; value in Tamil y:@. = 1/2 P (1/2 fanam) below;
Both sides within Rim of dashes.

KM29S1321b RRR 1784'.. between Tamil letters
KM29S1324a*RR 1788Monogram between : - : and 2 5 Rev. as No. 1321a, ... Line circle around rim on both sides
KM29S1324b RR 1788similar with <.:.>-><.:.> and : 2 S Rev. Tamil preceded by :
KM29S1324c RR 1788as b Rev. 1788
KM29S1325b RR 1792 with <:.>-+ and: 2 S (2 S divided by a short upright stroke); dot after date
KM29S1326 RRR 1793As No. 1325b

See also companion list of Jaffna 2 Stiver coins with Tamil letters interchanged.

To the end of their rule the Dutch had a special system for counting taxes at Jaffna: 5 doits = 1 tammekas; 10 tammekas = 1 fanam; 12 fanams = 1 rixdollar.

Minting in Jaffna as was also done at Galle, was under the supervision of the local employees of the Company. The text is in Tamil which had been the vernacular of Jaffna, in the North of Lanka, for centuries. Sinhala was used on the coins minted in Galle in the South of the Island.

The Stuivers were struck in accordance with the weight of the Stuivers of Colombo. The minting of Dudus anywhere but at Colombo was disapproved of by Batavia. Since, however, the Mint at Colombo was already overtaxed and it had to rush to be able to supply Jaffna and Galle with coining material before the end of the sailing season.

Tin Double Stuiver. Jaffna 1783.

KM29aS1333*RRRRDouble
Stuiver
1783Obv. VOC between <&>-<&>, below I (Jaffna), above 2.S.
Rev. 1783 over which <&>, below in Tamil the value '8~salli' = 8 doits.
Rim of dashes on both obv. and rev.
[From Grogan and White King collections only. Codrington 29. Type I]

Text from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
  Page 134 Chapter X Dutch - Coins of the Eastern Mints. C - Jaffna Plate 137.
* The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories- 1601-1948
  C. Scholten, 1953, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman.

The images are from Scholten, scanned and 100dpi and displayed at 200dpi.