½ Pagoda

Reverse

Legend in Persian: Zarb Tellicherry julus, within a beaded rim

Translation: Struck at Tellicherry during reign

Edge

Plain

Comment

Notes from Pridmore:
A gold pagoda with the place name Tellicherry and dated 1890 suggests that the revenue hûn was eventually issued, but not under any direction from the Bombay government.
In September 1808, shortly after Madras became responsible for the Malabar revenue collections, a study was made of the money species in which the revenue was paid. This was settled in the debased vir-rãya gold fanam, of which ten were termed a hoon. Three and a half fanams equalled one Bombay or Arcot rupee; three and a half rupees equalled one star pagoda. The principal silver coin was the Tellicherry fanam and there was also a silver coin called a billy (=velli) fanam.
 The suggestion was made that the vir rãya gold fanam should be recalled and silver currency should be confined to the Bombay or Arcot rupee. Madras fanams should replace the two smaller silver coins. From this it seems that the Tellicherry hûn was struck at Calicut as a temporary measure for the Revenue collections of that year. The design, except for the date, corresponds to the 1799 Tellicherry silver fanams, and with it's issue, the recomendations made in 1793 for a revenue hûn were completed.

Interesting fact