Portuguese Coin | 13 Nov 2023

Source: IE  

Why in News?

A farmer in North Goa’s Nanoda Bamber village unearthed a pot that contained coins from a bygone era.

• Pot contained 832 copper coins, believed to have been minted in Goa around the 16^th or 17^th Century when it was under Portuguese rule.

What was Characteristic of Portuguese Coinage in India?

• Portuguese issued coins in gold and silver from Goa, as well as copper, tin, and lead coins from other mints such as Cochin, Diu, and Damão.
• The gold coins were called ‘Cruzado’ or ‘Manoel’ and were issued in the same size, value, and weight. They had a cross on one side and the royal arms on the other. 
• The silver coins were called ‘Meia-espera’ and ‘Espera’.
• The copper coins were divided into various denominations such as ‘Bazaruco’, ‘Leal’, ‘Tanga’, ‘Pardau’, and ‘Real’. 
  • The copper coins had various symbols such as a castle, a lion, a crown, a cross, and the king’s name.
• The tin and lead coins were mainly issued from Diu and Malacca and were called ‘Dinheiro’.
  • They had a crude design and were often irregular in shape and size. They had the king’s name or initials on one side and a cross or a flower on the other.

What was India’s Engagement with Portuguese in Goa?

• Portuguese as a Traveller: Vasco da Gama was the first Portuguese explorer to reach India by sea in 1498 at Calicut on the Malabar Coast and was welcomed by a local ruler Zamorin.
• Portuguese as a Coloniser: In 1505, Francisco de Almeida became the first viceroy of Portuguese India and established a base in Cochin. He also fought against the Zamorin of Calicut and the Mamluks of Egypt, who were rivals in the spice trade.
  • Afonso de Albuquerque (in 1510) captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate and made Goa the capital of the Portuguese State of India.
• Colonial Rule of Portuguese: The Portuguese rule in Goa lasted for about 450 years, from 1510 to 1961. During this period, Goa became a prosperous and cosmopolitan city, known as the “Rome of the East”. 
• Liberation of Goa: The liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule was achieved by the Indian government in December 1961, after a 36-hour military operation known as Operation Vijay. 
• Statehood to Goa: In 1987, Goa was granted statehood by the Indian government, and became the 25th state of India.