The Coinage Period (1510-1958)
The Portuguese territories traded with the currency unit of xerafim/xerafin/xeraphin pre-1668. After 1668, the Portuguese administration struck a silver coin, calling it a double xerafin, and this was declared equal to a rupia in circulation in India. A xerafim was a convertible subunit of a rupia, unique to Portuguese colonies in India. One rupia equalled two xerafims.
In the decades that followed, the double xerafin came to be known in Goa and other Portuguese Indian territories simply as a rupia (or Portuguese Indian rupia) and was subdivided into units such as réis (real) and pardao, which mirrored the currency terms introduced by Portuguese officials in other colonies worldwide.
Goa, Damão, and Diu issued their own coinages until the middle of the 19th century. Damão issued copper 3, 15, 30, and 60 réis coins until 1854, when the mint closed. Diu issued lead and tin 5 and 10 bazarucos, together with tin 20 bazarucos, copper 30 and 60 réis, and silver 150 and 300 réis and 1 rupia. The Diu mint closed in 1859.
Goa issued the most diverse coinage of the three mints. In addition to tin bastardo, there were copper coins in denominations of 3, 4+1/2, 6, 7+1/2, 9, 10, 12, and 15 réis, 1/2 and 1 tanga, silver coins for 1/2 and 1 tanga, 1/2 and 1 pardau, and 1 rupia, and gold 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 xerafins. The Goa mint was closed by the British in 1869.
Following the closure of the last local mint, coins were imported from Portugal beginning in 1871. This included silver rupias and copper coins like 12 réis and 6 réis. This new coinage coincided with the reform of the subdivisions of the rupia. Copper coins were introduced in denominations of 3, 5, 10, and 15 réis, 1/2 and 1 tanga. In 1881, copper 1/8 tanga and silver 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 rupia coins were introduced. Bronze replaced copper in 1901, while cupro-nickel 2 and 4 tangas were introduced in 1934, followed by 1/2 and 1 rupia in 1947 and 1952, respectively.
The first paper money issued specifically for Portuguese India was issued by the Junta da Fazenda Pública in 1882 in denominations of 10 and 20 rupias. These were followed in 1883 by notes issued by the General Government for 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 rupias. In 1906, the Banco Nacional Ultramarino took over the issuance of paper money, issuing notes for 5, 10, 20, and 50 rupias. In 1917, notes were added for 4 and 8 tangas, and 1 and 2+1/2 rupias. These were the only issues of tanga-denominated notes, while the 2+1/2 rupia notes were issued until 1924 and the 1 rupia until 1929. 100 and 500 rupia notes were reintroduced in 1924.
Escudo Period (1958-1961)
In 1958, the rupia was replaced by the escudo at the rate of one rupee equal to 6 escudos, aligning with the Portuguese escudo’s value of 3 pence sterling, while 1 rupee was equal to 18 pence. The coins were issued in denominations of 10, 30, and 60 centavos, and 1, 3, and 6 escudos. They were gold, silver, and copper, featuring designs like the Cross of the Order of Christ and the armillary sphere. The obverse of the coin features the shield of Portugal on a lined circle, at the centre of a Maltese cross. The escudo was subdivided into 100 centavos and was equal in value to the Portuguese escudo.
The gold coins were termed ‘Cruzado’ or ‘Manoel’ and were issued in the same size, value, and weight as the ‘Pagodas’ or ‘Hons’. Another type of gold coin named ‘Meio-manoel’, and ‘Meia-espera’ and ‘Espera’ in silver were also issued.
Traditional Measures
During Portuguese rule in Goa, weight measures blended Indian traditions with Portuguese standards, adapting local units while introducing new ones for trade and administration. The widely used traditional Indian measure for grains, spices, and other goods was the khandi, which was equivalent to about 20 monn (1 monn = 40 kg). In Tiswadi, one khandi equalled 20 kudov of Tiswadi or 15 kudovs of Salcette due to regional variations in the size of the kudov. Four kudov made one seer/ser, while one kudav corresponded to two pailis. One paili equalled four podi, and half a pod was called a naktti.
A quarter or eighth of a pod was referred to as an an’natti or gin’natti. Portuguese measures included the Serão, which was equal to 16 pods, while one monn equalled 2 Serão. One arroba was equivalent to 32 pods.
The measurement of cloth, land boundaries, and small-scale construction was based on forearm (hath) length, which was standardised to approximately 45–46 cm. Three-fourths of a hath was known as a dhikem, and two haths made one gaz, which measured roughly 82–83 cm. Three-hand spans, typically the span of an outstretched adult hand, formed one côvado (66 cm), the primary unit used in construction, including forts, churches, and shipbuilding. One span (approximately 22 cm) was called a palmo, used for measuring furniture and masonry.
Five palmos equalled one vara, which measured approximately 1.1 meters and was used for land surveys and official records. For long distances in maritime navigation and territorial mapping, the légua was used. Its exact length varied between 5.5 and 6.6 km, depending on whether it was the légua de mar (maritime) or légua de terra (land).
