The coins of Tranquebar of Christian 7, 1766-1808

Christian VII 1766 - 1808

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1 and 2 kas, copper

1 kas 1780 Obverse: Crowned C7 Reverse: Crowned DAC monogram between 17 and 80, below 1 Although the Company in 1777 handed over the colony to the Crown 1 and 2 kas pieces with the year 1780 and the Company monogram are known.They were minted specially for sending of trial pieces to Copenhagen and only known as uncirculated exsamples. UBJ 261, KM 150, Sieg 76

2 kas 1780 Obverse: Crowned C7 monogram Reverse: Crowned DAC monogram between 17 and 80, below with inverted 2 UBJ 354, KM 153.2, Sieg 77.2

4 kas, copper

4 kas 1777 Obverse: Crowned C7 monogram Reverse: Crowned DAC monogram between 17 and 77, below 4 UBJ 333, KM 154.1, Sieg 78.1

4 kas 17 R 86 Obverse: Crowned C7 monogram Reverse: .IV. KAS 17 R 86 UBJ 337, KM 156, Sieg 79.2 Of 2 and 1 royalin 1786 as well as 4 kas 1786 there are coins with and without R. The reason for this R is probably Adolf Fridrich Restorff who came to Tranquebar on 28th June 1781. In 1782 he became 3rd member of the Government and in 1783 he became financial counsellor as well as head of the garrison. In 1786 on application he should have taken over as governor but died on 14th November 1786. On the last coins of 1786 he was remembered by placing an R on the reverse of the coins.

Unpublished variation of 4 kas 1787
The last 7 is clearly 6 with horizontal line. The stamp is identified as a known 1786 stamp.
The coin is shown in about doubble size.

10 kas, copper

10 kas, copper 1777 Obv.: Crowned double C7 Rev.: Crowned DAC monogram, 10 kas, A° 1777. UBJ 323, KM 164, Sieg 80.2

10 kas, copper 1782, 6,06 gr Obv.: Crowned C7 Rev.: .X. KAS 1782 UBJ 324, KM 168, Sieg 81

1 and 2 royalin, silver

1 royalin 1773 Obverse: Crowned C7 monogram Reverse: 1 ROYALIN, below crowned coat of arms separating the year 17 73 UBJ 296, KM 168, Sieg 82.1

2 royaliner 1776 UBJ 271, KM 171, S. 83.1
2 royaliner 17 R 86 Obverse: Crowned C7 monogram Reverse: 2 ROYALINER, below crowned coat of arms separating the year 17 86 with R below 86 (see 4 kas 17 R 86) UBJ 278, KM 172, Sieg 83.2

The only gold Coin minted by the Danes in Tranquebar

In the instructions of 24th November 1777 § 19 it is said that the Government should use the mint right in such a way that the rulers of Tanjore would have no reason for displeasure. Governor Anker, who had the task of putting the colony on a sound footing, thought of using the mint right as a means of creating a flourishing trade. The biggest firm in situ, Harrop & Stevenson had in the spring of 1789 proposed the re-establishment of the mint at Tranquebar "with authority as mint masters under the governor". They proposed to mint fanams, rupees, and pagodas according to the Rajah´s old permission of 1753.
The results, however, was just a minting of 18.375 pagodas between 13th March and 28th April 1789, with in addition about 1000 for the governor himself.

Pagoda, gold

Pagode, gold, 3,40 gr.
Obverse: Granulated with crowned C7 in oval field.
Reverse: The diety Vishnu.
UBJ 261, KM 174, Sieg 84

Read more about the pagoda

You can learn more about the history and the coins of Tranquebar in the book "Danish East India, Trade Coins and the Coins of Tranquebar".

Go to the complete catalog of the coins of Christian VII

Last updated 07-10-01 af Uno Barner Jensen