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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,931 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
is the top coin gold or the bottom coin, the top coin looks like it could be a gold fanam.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
jessvc1- Oh, yes, I accidentally reversed the pictures. The top one is gold and the bottom one is the bronze coin that I detailed above. You think that the gold coin may be a fanam? Do tell. Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
Indian states issued small gold coins called Fanams between about 1700-1830.
average weights and measurements are-5.7 to 6.5 mm and 0.3 to 0.4 grams
What is the weight and measurement of this coin.
Edited by jessvc1
12/27/2011 7:29 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
jessvc1- Thanks for the info! Really? That recently minted? Wow, I am surprised. And, yes, my coin is about 7mm and it is .33 grams. So any guesses as to the origin of my fanam? (Looks like it is time to deploy the ol'Krause standard catalogs).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
I couldnt tell you much more on these coins they all kind of look alike to me. but they are gold and thats always good to have.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
jessvc1- thanks for the info! Any guesses as to the mere bullion value of .33 grams of gold? I'm just wondering since I did pay about $12 for this coin. (Although I purchased it due to it being a South Asian coin).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
That is a good price for these coins they usually sell for 35 at todays prices its probably around the bullion value. There where later issues that where debased and looked a more lighter color then your coin. I would guess that your coin has a higher gold content.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
I found this info on these coins:
Francis Buchanan's report A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara and Malabar gives us an idea of the buying power of a fanam:
Salaries (in Sultani fanams in Northern Mysore)
Village head-man: 20 fanams/month
Man labourer in an iron forge hired by the year: 6-10 fanams/month
Farm labourer (daily wager): 1/4 fanam/day (male), 1/7 fanam/day (female)
House servant: 8 fanams/month
Slave (Buy): 30-60 fanams (male), 15-30 fanams (female)
Slave (Rent): 4 fanams/year (male), 2 fanams/year (female)!
Prices
Buffalo (female): 36-72 fanams
Ox: 25-30 fanams
Cow: 20-25 fanams
Sheep: 1-1 1/4 fanams
The prices given below are per bushel (1 bushel=36.37 litres)
Rice (best quality): 9 1/2
Wheat: 8 1/4
Salt (of Madras): 3 4/5
The prices given below are per cwt (1 cwt=45.36 kg)
Dates (1st quality): 43 2/5
Sugar (of Madras): 86 4/5
Honey: 26 1/16
Ghee (clarified butter): 83 1/4
Saffron (from Kashmir): 10425
Nutmeg: 868
Black pepper: 73 3/4
Opium: 1390
Indigo (1st quality): 434
Raw silk (white China): 2172
Lead: 43 2/5
Copper: 217
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
jessvc1- Very cool info! Thanks for that. It is good to see that this type of coin actually did circulate and had a bit of buying power.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2596 Posts |
Im not sure what that all means from rice on down but its neat so see what kind of buying power a coin had in its day with wages and animals. thanks for posting these you have a couple of neat coins BTW
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,931 |
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Posted 12/27/2011 7:04 pm
