Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait391903roya).pdf/212

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Of a smaller size of this coin, possibly the Dinheiros, there are about forty specimens, some in excellent condition. Size 19mm = $3⁄4$ in; weight 2 to 2.3 grammes. The obverse bears around the cross the inscription

The reverse has the sphere (pl. II, figs. 10 and 10a).

There are some coins which on the obverse round a coat-of-arms merely bear the inscription.

i. e. Ioannes Rex Portugaliæ et Algarbiorum Dei Gratia, and on the reverse the sphere. Although not clearly assigned to the reign of John III, still there is no reasonable doubt that they too belong to his time, and not to that of John IV, 1610-1656, during the second year of whose reign Malacca was lost to the Portuguese, nor to the time of John V, 1706-1750. There are about twenty specimens of it, but most of them in a very indifferent condition. Size 24 mm. = $15⁄16$ in; weight 6.3 to 6.4 grammes. (pl. II, figs. 8 and 8a).

A smaller coin, of which there are two specimens, has on the obverse a cross, with the letters ISMA in the four angles of the cross, and on the reverse again the sphere. These letters probably stand for 'Ioannes, Malacca,' shewing that the coin was struck at Malacca during the reign of a King Ioannes, probably again John III. The cross is very like the cross on certain coins figured by Da Cunha (part 1, pl. I, figs 3, 4 and 7) from the mints of Goa and Diu and belonging apparently to the eighteenth century. Size 17.5 mm. = $11⁄16$ in; weight 3.8 to 3.9 grammes (pl. II, figs. 13 and 13a).

Belonging probably to the reign of the next king, Sebastian, 1557-1578, there are six specimens of a large coin which has on the reverse the two letters S. B. with three crossed arrows between them, and on the reverse the coat-of-arms. The S. probably stands for 'Sebastian', and the letter B. may stand either for