portuguese

Coins Museum
Coins Of Portuguese (1511-1641)
Why circulated in Malacca? Where These Money Came From?
Place of Origin - Malacca

Coins Of Portuguese (1511-1641)

Alfonso D'Albuquerque, Governor and 2nd Viceroy of Portuguese India attacked and occupied Malacca on 24th. August, 1511, thus ended the Malacca Sultanate, and the Portuguese occupied Malacca for 130 years until 1641.

During the administration of Alfonso D'Albuquerque, gold and silver coins were struck in Malacca in 1511, during the reign of King Dom Manuel 1, but seldom found in Malacca the gold (Catolico) and silver (Malaques) coins.

Samples Of Portuguese-Malacca Coins

Tanga

The tin coins were the "Bastardo", "Soldo" and " Dinheiro" which were minted in Lisbon for circulation in Malacca. The locally issued tin coins was characterised by crude workmanship, poorly engraved in comparison with the De Castro issue, the forth Viceroy of India (1545-1548).

"Tanga", silver coins, issued and minted during the reign of King Dom Felipe III of Portugal, were in four denominations, the "Half Tanga", "The Tanga", "Double Tanga" and "Quadruple Tanga". The most popular one shall be the silver tanga of "Botelha Tanga".

Type & Grade Of Portuguese Coins

CATOLICO (Gold) and MEIO (Half), with plain edge, weighted quarter and 1/8 tahil, minted in Malacca, diameter is unknown.

Malaquez (silver), with 9 grams of pure silver. diameter around 33mm, weighted at 69 g, composition is silver.

BASTARDO (1st and 2nd Issues, 1512-1515)

Minted in Malacca, tin composition, edge is plain, average diameter is 36-38mm, thickness 7mm, weighted at 40-52g, with the armillary sphere of ecliptic circle falling from left to right, surrounded by legend of " D M P R DE PV S OR D I E MALA", stand for D(om) M (anoe) P (rimero) R (ei) DE PV (rtugal) S (enh) OR D (a) I (ndia) E MALA (oca), if translated into our language, shall be read as "Dom Manoel the First, Kin of Portugal and Lord of India and Malacca", at the reverse shown with "Cross of the Order of the Knights of Christ surrounded by two circles of beads and legend "CRVX XPI NOSTRE SPES UNICA", in our language shall be read as "Cross of Christ our only hope - of salvation"

BASTARDO (3rd Issue , 1517-1521)

Minted in Malacca, tin composition, plain edge, diameter around 23-28mm, thickness 2.5mm, weighted at 10-14 grams

SOLDO (1st & 2nd Issues, 1512-1515)

Minted in Malacca, tin composition, plain edge, diameter23-25mm, weighted at 3.5g -4.9g, observe is armillary sphere with ecliptic circle falling from left to right, surrounded by dots, with "Cross of the Order of the Knights o Christ, with legend + NOSTRE SPES VNICA" on reverse.

DINHEIRO

Minted in Malacca, diameter 20mm, plain edge, tin composition, "Crowned arms of Portugal and legend PORTV" on obverse and armillary sphere with five parallels and legend "N DEO" on reverse.

MEIA TANGA (1615), QUATRO TANGA (1633), QUADRUPLE TANGA (1635, 1638) minted in Malacca, some in Goa, diameter 16-29mm, weighted at 9-12 grams, silver composition, plain edge.

Many more types of tanga which minted in Malacca and Goa, with smaller the diameter and weight, are classified as very rare silver coins for collectors to keep.

Previous | Main menu | Next