Coins In Lucknow Mus. Vol 01 [56 MB - IndianCoins.org

59of 2 per cent, to cover the charges of recoinage." The meaningof the term ' Soolakee ' has been already explained (p. 45) andthe terms ' Chapee ' and ' Gabree ' are explained in a letter fromthe Collector of South Canara to the Accountant-General, Fort St.George, dated 26th March 1825, wherein it is stated that " TheChapee rupees are so called on account of their being -impressedwith a stamp, which they receive at the treasuries of the NativeStates where they have been circulated, and this stamp or chopdoes not in any way take away from their weight or value ;onthe contraryit may be considered an additional proof of theirbeing genuine, as it is only after being shroffed in those treasuriesthat the mark is affixed by the treasurers.The Chapee-Soolakee has the additional mark of a nail, orother pointed instrument driven into the coin, to ascertain in thefirst instance that it is silver of the proper standard." The Grabree rupeeis so called from the circumstance of asmall piece of the metal having been rubbed or knocked off thecoin in the course of circulation. It has its origin in general inthe rupee being originally short of weight from the mould notbeing completely filled, when the rupee was struck, and a smallportion of silver equal to the quantity deficient being subsequentlyadded on the part imperfectly stamped. This piece of silver notbeing fused with the metal is liable to be rubbed off, and the coinfrom which it has been removed is called Gabree, and is more orless deficient in weight according to the size of the piece of silverthat has been displaced and lost, which, however, is always verysmall, seldom exceeding the value of ^f^ part of a rupee, or 1per cent."The following correspondence bears on the currency at this 1829,time in the Tenasserim Provinces ;FromToTHE CIVIL COMMISSIONER,Tenasserim Provinces,THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,I3tk January 1829.FortWilliam.SIR,A number of Madras pagodas and other coins, amounting invalue to Madras rupees 19,328-13-0, having been collected inthe treasuries at Tavoy and Mergui, and the common currency ofthese provinces being Madras rupees, I beg leave to transmitthese coins, which the Burmese inhabitants are unwilling to receive*in order that the same may be sent to the mint at Calcutta andcoined into rupees. I beg to enclose a list of the different coinsand a receipt of the same.I take this opportunity of soliciting that application may bemade to the Government of Fort St. George to remit to me asupply of copper coinage to the extent in value of 20,000 Madras