ST. HELENA 



291 



In 1760 gold rupees and ryals are not mentioned, and 

 no alteration is mentioned in value of silver, for, after this, 

 the treasury balance is written only as " Specie " and 

 " Cash notes." 



But St. Helena was in the direct homeward track of 

 vessels from India and, as many Anglo-Indians settled 

 here, it formed, although so far off, a part of the Indian 

 currency area, and the gold coins of the island were pagodas 

 and Venetians. During the exile here of Napoleon, 

 naturally French money was current. Still Indian money, 

 especially the pagoda, was the chief circulating medium. 



In 1819 the coins were rated as under : 



And to prevent their being sent off the island they were 

 taken by the treasury in payment for goods, etc., at 7 per 

 cent, above their prices. But even this did not avail, for 

 in 1818 the Company had to import £50,000 in dollars. In 

 1821 the Company struck a copper half-penny, and cont- 

 templated, it is thought, a silver coinage, for patterns of a 

 half-crown of 1823 are known, and of a shilling of 1833. 

 Small coin was scarce, and all small copper coins, even 

 farthings, were counted as halfpence, which latter coin is 

 still the St. Helena minimum. 



In 1823 values of coinage were determined by the Gover- 

 nor and Council as under : — 



Spanish and American dollars 



(The Maria Therese dollar still in use 



in Africa and Abyssinia.) 

 Doubloons ..... 

 Jose Portuguese .... 

 (With star) Bengal mohurs 

 Bombay and other mohurs 



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