Ceylonese rixdollar

The rixdollar was the currency of British Ceylon until 1828. It was subdivided into 48 stivers, each of 4 duit. Units called the fanam and larin were also used, worth 4 and 9½ stiver, respectively. The currency derived from the Dutch rijksdaalder and stuiver, although the rijksdaalder was worth 50 stuiver. The rixdollar was replaced by the British pound at a rate of 1 rixdollar = 1 shilling 6 pence.

Copper 4-stiver coin, 1803

Coins

The Netherlands United East India Company (VOC) issued coins during the 18th century in denominations of ​¹⁄₈ and 1 duit, ​¹⁄₄, 1, 2 and ​4 ³⁄₄ stuiver and 1 rixdollar.

After the British took over Ceylon, dump coins (crudely struck copper pieces) were introduced in 1801 in denominations of ​¹⁄₄₈, ​¹⁄₂₄ and ​¹⁄₁₂ rixdollar. In 1802, milled, copper coins for ​¹⁄₁₉₂, ​¹⁄₉₆ and ​¹⁄₄₈ rixdollar were added, although the dump coins continued to be produced until 1816. Silver coins were introduced in 1803 for 24, 48 and 96 stivers.

In 1815, copper ​¹⁄₂, 1 and 2 stuiver coins were issued, equal in value to the ​¹⁄₉₆, ​¹⁄₄₈ and ​¹⁄₂₄ rixdollar denominations. Silver rixdollar coins were issued in 1821.

Banknotes

The Government of Ceylon issued notes denominated in rixdollars, including 5 rixdollar notes in 1809 and 2 rixdollars in 1826.

References

Notes

• Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1978). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1979 Edition. Colin R. Bruce II (senior editor) (5th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873410203.
• Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.