Unpublished Portuguese

Quarter Bazarucos from Kochi Mint

Jee Francis Therattil

This paper is primarily an attempt to identify and denominate a tiny [7mm. max.
dia.] beautifully executed copper coin which was found among a hoard of coins similar to
those usually referred to as ‘Thirākāshu’ by Travancore rulers.1

The emblem shown on the obverse is a Cross with all the four bisected portions
symmetrical, usually referred to as ‘Greek Cross’ [fig. 1a], whereas the other side bears a
globe2 [fig. 1b]. The dotted circle encompassing the Cross has two more continuous circles
- one inside and one outside. Likewise, the continuous circle encompassing the globe has
two more dotted circles - one inside and one outside. Coin weighs 275 mg. and is in a
good state of preservation. The presence of Cross and globe and the style of their depiction
being comparable with some coins of much bigger denomination, makes me feel safe to
attribute this coin as one among Portuguese issues in India.

Fig.1a. Cu., 7 mm. Ø, 275 mg. Fig. 1b.

The smallest copper coin catalogued3 among the issues of the Portuguese in India
is the quarter Bazaruco [KM # 1] issued from Cochim [Cochin - English version of Kochi
in regional language derived from Kōchiri - denoting ‘Gōshree’]4 bearing a Latin Cross
[with close resemblance with nilavilakku - pedestal lamp] on one side [fig. 2a] and a globe
on the other side [fig. 2b], weighing 700 mg. [specimen of this coin in my collection
weighs 690mg.]. Even though quarter Bazarucos are known to have been minted from
Goa also, the weight standard is much higher at Goa.
 The size of the coin under study and thus the emblems depicted in it being so tiny
as to make a comparison with similar emblems depicted in coins known to have been
issued from a particular mint, it is much difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion.

Fig. 2a. Cu., 11 mm. Ø, 690 mg. Fig. 2b.

Even though there is a likeness in the combination of the Greek Cross and the
globe symbols as depicted in coins like 1/2 Leal [copper, KM # 44], Leal [copper, KM # 56]
and Manoel [gold, KM # 251] issued from Goa, the peculiarities are not convincingly in
tally so as to make sure that the present coin also was issued from the same mint.
Moreover, the peculiarity in the arrangement of circles and dotted circles in both sides
make me feel otherwise. The present coin exhibits the continuous circle in between two
dotted circles around the Cross, whereas, the coins from Goa mint exhibit a dotted circle
in between two continuous circles. This may be a purposeful variation so as to help
identify the place of its origin.

We know from a contemporary Portuguese official document5 at least not much

later than, if at all not in 1506 AD, wherein a rate of 3 Caixas [Caix = Kāsh] was fixed for a
purpose at Kochi. This is much before the commencement of a mint in the city of Santa
Cruz at Kochi [1530 AD]6 and even before the very first Portuguese mint in India - Goa -
which got established in 1510 AD7 only. This rules out the possibility of a ‘Caix’ in this
period appearing with Cross and globe emblems. Thus the reference is definitely on a
native coin which was then in prevalence in Kochi.

A coin with a native flavour - at least in its name - is known to have been issued
from Kochi - Fanao [Fanam = Panam] - having a value of 212/3 Reais,8 in the year 1554 AD.
As its value is very high, the coin under study cannot be a Fanao.

Now the possibility of the coin under study narrows to just an issue in the
denomination of quarter Bazaruco from the mint at Kochi. The globe depicted in quarter
Bazaruco [copper, KM # 3] and half Bazaruco [copper, KM # 11] minted at Goa shows
striking resemblance with the globe in the coin under study. It is not sure whether the
mint at Kochi was still functioning during this period i.e. 1598 - 1621 AD. The coin under
study shows a great reduction in its weight standard from 700 mg. to 275 mg. The other
two coins also exhibit similar reduction in the weight standard. Quarter Bazaruco weighs
1.20 g only against 2.30 g and half Bazaruco weighs 2.00 g only against 4.30 g from the
same mint in the beginning.

From these observations, we can safely conclude that the coin under study should
be a quarter Bazaruco from Kochi mint during the period 1598 to 1621 AD; i.e. during the
reign of D. Philip II, the King of Portugal.

Coins [of size 10mm. max.] with crude execution of Greek Cross on one side [fig.
3a] and dotted Latin Cross with base on the other side [fig. 3b], both inside a circle within
a dotted circle are also known including a few specimens in my collection [no.1 and 2 –
600 mg each, no.3 – 400 mg and no.4 - partly chipped off – 300 mg]. I attribute these coins
also to be Portuguese quarter Bazaruco issues from Kochi, but minted at a later period.
The style of depiction of Cross having striking resemblance with 4 Bazarucos [Bacaim &
Chaul] KM # 1; 5 Bazarucos [Damao] KM # 7; Bazaruco [Diu] KM # 1 to 4; 2 Bazarucos
[Diu] KM # 6 to 8; and 5 Bazarucos [Diu] KM # 14 to 17; makes me think that this is a
later issue. The presence of two types of Crosses [Greek and Latin] in a single coin is a bit
interesting.

Fig. 3a. Cu., 10 mm. Ø, 600 mg. Fig. 3b.

As these coins have a typical native appearance and are found along with
Thirākāshu coins, they are also generally categorized under Thirākāshu, which is again
generally believed to have been issued by Travancore rulers only. We have already seen
that Kāshu was prevalent in Kochi even before the Portuguese period. Again, Varthema9
states that 16 ‘Cas’ [Kāshu] makes 1 ‘Tare’ [Thāram], in the first decade of the 16th
century. This proves beyond any doubt that nādus in Kerala [not confining to the present
political boundaries] other than Travancore also had Kāshu in their monetary system.

Technically Thirākāshu is the Kāshu made out of Thiravam.10 The differentiation

ends here. Kāshu - whether Chembukāshu11 or Thirākāshu - as all were of almost the same
weight standard, circulated throughout the length and breadth of Kerala as if it was an
‘inter-nādu’ currency bearing the same value. This is the background of the Portuguese
issuing quarter Bazaruco coins at Kochi in native [inter-nādu] Kāshu weight standard. So
one quarter Bazaruco was equivalent to one Kāshu. Conversion to the Portuguese
monetary system from native monetary system was also made effortless by this way.
 Bazaruco was minted in denominations of 1/4, 1, 2 and 4. It is worth observing the
relevance of starting from 1/4 Bazaruco and ending in 4 Bazarucos in this system:

16 1/4 Bazaruco = 4 Bazarucos.

16 Kāshu = 1 Thāram.

Thus, the ‘4 Bazarucos’ copper coin was perfectly ‘at par’ with the Thāram - a tiny
silver coin meaning star. All except one, out of five ‘4 Bazarukos’ coin varieties known, are
minted at Kochi only. Even the odd one is from Bacaim & Chaul only [weighing 4.22 g.
against app. 20 g. of Kochi] and not from Goa!

The absence of any half Bazaruco denomination in Kochi can be considered as an

indication that the Portuguese were really reluctantly forced to extend the denomination
down to 1/4. Otherwise what is the relevance of 1/4 without 1/2 in a system [1/4 – 1/2 - 1 - 2 -
4] where the weight is already too light compared to weight standard adopted by the
Portuguese in other Indian enclaves?

All these clearly lead to confirm that the Portuguese monetary system in Kochi
was built up based on the already prevailing native monetary system in full compatibility
with each other. The coin discussed in the beginning, with 7 mm diameter and 275 mg.
weight turns out to be the smallest coin known to have minted by Portuguese in India.

Notes & References:

1a. Nēttu of Dharmarāja dt. 961 KE [1785 AD.].

1b. Nēttu of Rāni Pārvathi Bāi dt. 991 KE [1815 AD.].
KE. is Kollam Era starting with Chingam in August.
KE + 824/825 = AD.
2. Interpreted also as an astrolabe - an instrument used by mariners.
3. The Standard Guide to South Asian Coins and Paper Money Since 1556 AD, First
edition, Krause Publications, USA
4. Visvavijnānakōsham, vol.V, p.606, SPCS, Kottayam, 1971.
Go means cow, shree means prosperity.
5. Documentacao papa a Historia, Antonio da Silva Rego, vol.I, doc.10, p.44.
6. Money Economy in the Portuguese India 1510-1640, K.S. Mathew,
The Journal of the Gujarat Research Society,
p.25, vols. 46/47, July, 1984, Bombay.
7. Indo-Portuguese Coinage in the Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Centuries, K.S.
Mathew, The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India, p.120, vol. XLVI, 1984.
8. Livro dos Pesos da Ymdia, e asy Medidas e Moedas Escripto em 1554,
Antonio Nunez, in Subsidios para a Historia da India Portugueza,
ed. Rodrigo Jose de Lima Felner, Lisbon, 1868, p.62.
9. The Travels of Ludovico di Varthema in Egypt, Syria, Arabia Deserta and Arabia Felix,
in Persia, India and Ethiopia A.D. 1503-08,
Ludovico di Varthema, p.25, London.
10. Coins of Venad Cheras, Beena Sarasan, Poorna Publications, 2000, p.67.
11. Chembu means copper. As Kāshu is generally of chembu, the adjective is of practically
no relevance and so the usage is always just Kāshu.
Courtesy to:

1. Dr. M. G. Sasibhooshan, Thiruvananthapuram,

for his valuable guidance in the matter.
2. Dr. N. Sreedhar, Thiruvananthapuram,
for crisp high resolution digital image capturing of the coins.

This is a study on a coin which eventually got confirmed as the smallest one
among the issues by the Portuguese. This study also brought to light several facts like that
Kāshu was prevalent in Kochi even before the Portuguese period and the strategies the
Portuguese had taken while introducing their own monetary system in the region. Paper
got published in the journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XVIII in
2008, making the journal again having two research papers by the same author.

Jee Francis Therattil,

Therattil
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
E-mail: [email protected]