The story of Indian coins is not complete without the influence of those foreign powers that once or twice governed parts of the subcontinent. Of those, Portuguese, Dutch & French India coins own a special place. These coins were not only currency in use but also emblems of trading superiority, sea power, and European enterprise in India. At present, they are some of the most interesting collectibles for numismatists in terms of both history and aesthetics.
Indian trade routes flourished during the 16th century when it started attracting European merchants as well as colonial powers. Portuguese coins in India were some of the first European coins released, which started after Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut in 1498. Thereafter, there were releases of Dutch India coins when the Dutch East India Company arrived in the 17th century. Then there were releases of French coins when French settlements arrived in Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Mahe, Karikal, and Yanam.
These European nations issued coins in an attempt to facilitate trade and commerce in spices, cloths, and valuable commodities, along with signifying their presence across Indian territory by marking their authority.
Portuguese India coins are regarded as the first European coins in India. Their minting centre point was Goa, which became the Portuguese India capital. Ancient Portuguese coins are loved by collectors due to their elaborate Christian symbols, such as royal insignia, crosses, as well as saintly symbols.
Portuguese coins in gold and in silver sometimes had printed upon them the name of their rulers, along with intricate European designs which you would not see on Indian coins in those times.
A very rare and sought-after collectible is the Portuguese India coin bearing King Manuel I, whose rule oversaw an expansion in Portugal's Asian influence.
Variants like the Portuguese Indian coin x (indicative of several denominations) indicate both requirements in trade as well as the need to accommodate European coins in Indian markets.
Portuguese India coins online for sale even today are in immense demand not only in India but on all numismatically oriented websites globally.
The Dutch came into India in their mighty Dutch East India Company, which held a monopoly over Asian trade routes during the 17th century. Their Indian settlements were primarily in Pulicat, Nagapattinam, Surat, and parts of Bengal. The Dutch India coins they issued carried the famous VOC monogram (for Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie), a symbol recognized worldwide among coin collectors.
They are distinctive for their understated simplicity, yet they reflect the height of Dutch maritime dominance in Asia.
French and Portuguese Indian colonies were rivals for land and power, but French settlements became meaningful in the late 17th century. French India coins were minted mostly at
It is worth noting that the French got the site of Pondicherry from the Sultan of Bijapur in the late 17th century, strengthening their foothold in India. Coins minted here tell the story of colonial diplomacy, trade negotiations, and shifting power. You can explore the range of Ancient French Coins collection online and shop them from verified buyers from Sikkaji.
These coins are interesting for collectors because they are so varied in design as well as historical context. Each piece is more than a piece of currency; it is evidence that commerce shaped India's economy and society several hundred years before freedom.
Even though the British eventually overshadowed the Portuguese, Dutch, and French in India, the coins from these earlier European powers remain highly collectible.. European Influence on Indian Currency and Coins. Though ultimately surpassed in India by the Portuguese, Dutch, and French, coins of their pre-British Indian rule are extremely collectible.
Due to their few mintages, local circulations, and symbolic mint marks, their coins are coveted rarities in any set. On Sikkaji, the Portuguese, Dutch & French ancient India coins available are curated for collectors who want a piece of history that goes beyond the mainstream Mughal or British issues. Each coin tells its own story, of a ship that sailed across oceans, a deal struck in a bustling port city, or a colony built on the shores of India. Buy Antique and Rare coins online from verified sellers at Sikkaji- your most trusted numismatics website in India.
