160 CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



a revenue, put up the gold and silver to auction, and in the 

 year 1795 the silver ducatoon which ten years before had been 

 exchanged for not more than 80 stivers each, was sold at a 

 hundred. This result arose partly from the scarcity of the silver 

 coin, and partly from the depreciation of the copper coin, for in 

 1787 Vandergraff had caused money to be coined from the 

 brass of old guns, instead of fine copper. 



Prior to these measures, says Bertolacci the real currency was 

 the ducatoon which contained 1 oz. 1 dwt. 1 gr. English stand- 

 ard silver ; but afterwards the copper coin became the standard, 

 and that standard was injured. This copper coin in its depre- 

 ciated state formed with the paper money by far the greatest 

 part of the currency when the English took possession of the 

 settlement. 



Annexed is a representation of the silver coin of Holland 

 weighing about 24J grs. No. 10 as also of the following copper 

 coins, showing the chally with its fractions, and the pice or 

 stiver with its fractions : 



1 Stuiver 1783, about the weight of four challies, each of 

 which is about 47 grs. or nearly one-sixth of a penny English 

 by weight* No. 11. 



J Stuiver of 48 grs. or a chally. No, 12. 



Copper coin of 20 grs. bearing date 1753 No. 13. 



Copper coin of I6j or 17 grs. which is about one-third 

 Df a chally, and in weight less than a quarter farthing English. 

 No. 14. 



The chally and stiver had also their multiples ; the former in 

 copper, and the hitter in silver. 



The colony in coming into the English possession was held 

 under the East India Company, and in the year 1800 a new 

 supply of copper was sent out from England by that Company 

 in whole half and quarter stivers. But in the beginning of 1 802 

 the government of the island was put immediately under the 

 crown. Then for the first time Were coined silver rixdollars; 



