collection and study of coins, tokens and currency of all ages.
Lanka has a very rich and documented numismatic history stretching back over 2300 years. The earliestknown coins mentioned in the 3rd Century Chronicle Mahavamsa are Karshapana. These are small flat silver pieces about three grams in weight on which various marks have been punched. Most came from
India in trade, but some may have been manufactured in Lanka.
The first indigenous coins of Lanka issued during the early Anuradhapura period have the railed
swastika which is found only on Lankan coins. The largest of these coins known as the Elephant and
Swastika has multiple symbols. Smaller coins have the Bo tree, or a lion, or Gaja Lakshmi on the
reverse and the railed swastika on the obverse.
The Kahavanu which were issued in the 7th to 11th century are about 4.4 grams of typically 9-15 Karetgold and are also found as fractions Pala (Quarter) and Aka (Eighth) of a Kahavanu. Similar sized
copper coins known as Massa issued from 9th to 13th centuries had the name of the king written in Nagri
text.
Coins were also issued by the colonial rulers, the Portuguese, Dutch and British for use in Lanka. During
the British period from about 1840 to 1880, tokens were used in coffee and tea estates as payment for
labour. The tokens were redeemable only at the company shop for goods creating a closed economy.
The first rupees and cents coins are dated 1870 and have the head of Queen Victoria. Similar coins
in copper and silver were issued with the heads of Edward VII, George V, George VI and Queen
Elizabeth II. Coins with the Ceylon Armorial emblem were issued from 1963 to 1972, and the Sri
Lanka Armorial Emblem since 1972. The Central Bank has also issued commemorative coins since1957, some of which circulated, and can be found among the change you get.
(All coins and currency are displayed at actual size.
Background water mark - One Pound Sterling 1827-1853 / Fifty Rupees 1941-1945).
52 | Coins and Currency of Lanka SLT RAINBOW PAGES
Lankan currency notes have a rich history of over 200 years. The oldest notes issued by the Dutch
in 1785 were known as Kredit Brieven. The British issued Sterling currency from 1827 and manyinternational banks operating Lanka issued currency as well. From 1885 there was rupee currency
from the Ceylon Government, and since 1951 from the Central Bank.
There are a number of Coins and Currency Collections, like those in the Colombo and Kandy National
Museums, the Dutch Period Museum, the Central Bank Economic History Museum, the Bank of
Ceylon Museum which are open to public.
The market value of a coin or currency depends strongly on its rarity and condition. Punch Mark
coins about 2000 years old may sell for little more than their weight in silver. Most copper Massacoins which are over 800 years old and VOC duits which are over 200 years old may be obtained for
around Rs 100 since they are found in very large numbers. There are, however, a few Lankan copper
coins that are worth a lot more than their weight in gold.
Crude replica of the VOC bar, Dutch and early British dump coins are sold by street hawkers in
Galle Fort and other tourist spots. There also some replica, which need an expert knowledge
to identify.
Note that it is also illegal to export out of the island any genuine antique item including
coins more than 100 years old. The Sri Lanka Customs have recently opened a museumwith the best of these confiscated items including coins.Technically modern fakes are
OK, but the Sri Lanka Customs Officers at Airport or Post Office will not probably
identify them as such, and if discovered will give you as much problems as the genuine
article until you can prove they are fake.
The Sri Lanka Numismatic Society (SLNS) was founded in 1976 to serve the coin collectors
in Lanka and counts many leading collectors of coins and currency as members..
(The writer Dr Kavan Ratnatunga maintains an educational website on Lankan
coins and currency at http://coins.lakdiva.org which could be referenced for more
information).
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