1815 - Ceylon

Two Stiver

Two Stiver copper coin struck at the Royal Mint for circulation in Ceylon.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationTwo Stiver
AlloyCopper
Diameter34. mm
Thickness mm
Weight18.14 gms
ShapeRound
EdgePlain
Issue1,920,000
DieAxis
Proof
MintRoyal Mint
1815_2st_obverse 1815_2st_reverse
Pridmore #90; Mitchiner #2221; Krause #82

Obverse : Laur and draped bust to right. T.W placed below the right shoulder. Around margin GEORGIUS III D:G : BRITANNIARUM REX
Reverse : Within plain rim an elephant facing left and above, CEYLON around rim; TWO STIVER in a single line; and below 1815.

The Stiver known in Sinhala Tuttuwa and in Tamil Tuddu was worth 3 Dutch challie (VOC Duits), and 4 English challie (1/2 Farthings). i.e. "Two Stiver" was of equal value to a British Penny of similar weight and size. The British idiom "Not worth a penny" translated to the Sinhala "Tuttu dhecker", which is a comparison with the value of this coin.

The obverse engraved by Thomas Wyon Jr. A similar proof pattern not issued for circulation has a dot after REX., a small rose near the rim above initials T.W. on obverse, and T.W on the ground line below elephants right near-side foot.
Pridmore collection (Glendining & Co Auction 1982 October 18th, London lot#41) sold for GBP550.(+10% buyers premium). The Dick Ford collection (in Taisei-Baldwin-Gillio Auction#19 1995 February 23 Singapore lot#183) sold Proof for hammer price of US$1,300/-(+10% buyers premium).

Text from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
  Page 154 Chapter XI British - Coins struck in England .

The coin was scanned at 300dpi and the images are displayed at 200dpi.