Question: What is this coin? Front – 2 lions on either side of a heraldic shield. There is a banner under the shield, but the print is too small to make out. Around the rim is the wording East India Co. 1803. Back has Arabic lettering on the top 2/3rd’s and at the bottom is written V. Cash
It’s an 1803 India, Madras Presidency 5 cash. This was an issue of the British East India Company, a trading company with permission to trade and issue their own coinage in India. Because of local customs and in order to mesh with local currencies the following monetary equivalents were established.
- 1 dudu = 10 cash (copper)
- 8 dudu = 1 fanam (silver)
- 36 fanams = 1 Pagoda (silver or gold)
- 3 1/12 rupees (silver) = 1 Pagoda
Approximate value range, depending on grade (vg-unc): US $1 – $200.
