Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 106

102
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 1913
of which 400 go to the dollar. Besides these there are silver fanam, single, double and treble (ilie latter callei tali),80 coined at Madrag: 24 fanam or 8 tali being equal to the Spanish dollar, which is always valued in the English Settlements at 5 shillings sterling. Silver rupees (rupik) have occasionally been struck in Bengal, for the use of the Settlements on the coast of Sumatra, but not in sufficient quantities to become a general currency. In the year 1786, the Company contracted with the late Mr. Boulton of Soho [London] for a copper coinage, the proportions of which I was desired to adjust. The same system, with many improvements suggested by Mr. Charles Wilkins, el has since been extended to the three Presidencies of India. At Achin, small and thin gold and silver coins were formerly struck and still are current, but I have not seen any of the pieces that bore the appearance of modern coinage, nor am I aware that this right of sovereignty is exercised by any other power in the Island."
This statement in Marsden's Sumatra shows that in 1811 he was working on the Dutch scale, and provides an interesting comparative table with what is nowadays understood as the old Datch” scale. Marsden's Scale.
Old Dutch Scale. 16% cash make 1 fanam.
4 cash make 1 duit. 2 fanam 1 double fanam.
24 duit
1 dubbeltje. 11 double fanam 1 tali.
2) dubbeltje , 1 kenděri. 2 tali 1 suku.
2 konděri
1 tali. 4 saku , 1 dollar.
2 tali
» l suku. 4 suku
» 1 dollar. 400 cash to the dollar.
400 cash to the dollar. The statement tends to show that the modern European System of 400 cash to the dollar arose out of the requirements of Europeans in Sumatra in dealing with the Malays, and was imported thence to the Malay Peninsula, possibly by Sir Stamford Raffles about 1819, though apparently Marsdon was working on notions of money current loth in Sumatra and Malacca in his time.
There is a curious reference to the "old Dutch Scale" of 400 cents to the dollar in the following quotation from Tavernier's Travels, English ed., 1678, Vol. I, Pt. II., p. 6 l., showing that it, or something like it, existed long before Marsden's time:
"An Account of the Money of Asia." The money of the King of Cheda and Pera (Kedah and Perak). This money is of Tin, and is coined by the king of Cheda and Pera. He coins no other money than Tin. Some year since he found out several Mines, which was a great prejudice to the English. For the Hollanders and their merchants buy it, and vend it over all Asia. Formerly the English brought it out of England, and furnished great part of Asia, where they consumed a vast quantity; they carried it also into all the Territories of the great Mogal, as also into Persia and Arabia ; for all their Dishes are of Copper, which they cause to be tinned over every month. Among the meaner sort of people, there is little to be seen but this Tin-money, and the Shells called Cori (cowrey); Figs. 1 and 2 are of that great piece of Tin, which weighs an onnce and a half,89 and in that country goes for the value of two of our Sous. But in regard that Tin is there at 14 Sous a pound, this is not worth above one Sous and three Deneers. This piece of Tin is only thick in the sides, the middle being as thin as paper.
See infra, p. 107, n. 6, as to the transfer of the term tali for half a rupee, or four to the dollar, in modern Indian broker's slang.
Librarian of the East India Company.
The old Fronob poid de mare or pound of 16 oz. 7555 gr. Eor.. as against the old Eng. lb. which 7600 gra.
The old French livre (called also the frane) was divided into 30 sous of 12 deniers enob, so a ww was roughly * English half penny or 1 cent of a dollar,