Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait391903roya).pdf/213

 for 'Bassein,' one of the mint towns, or for 'Bastardo,' the name of the largest tin coin. The arrows are symbolic of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian after whom the king was called. The size of the coin is 30 mm. = $1 3⁄16$ in; weight 11.3 to 11.9 grammes (pl. I, figs. 4 and 4a).

Another coin, which very probably also belongs to this reign, bears on the obverse the letters B and A, with three crossed arrows between them, and on the reverse the sphere. The coin is too small for the letter B to stand for 'Bastardo,' and it is pro- bably the mint mark of Bassein, whilst the letter A may stand either for 'Asia' or 'Albuquerque (see above p. 190). The three crossed arrows show that the coin was struck during the reign of Sebastian, like the previous coin, and the two dots above them probably indicate its value in dinheiros. Eight specimens were found: size 17 mm. = $11⁄16$ in; weight 3.5 to 3.7 grammes (pl. II, figs. 12 and 12a).

The coin pictured on pl. I, fig. 1, of which there is only one specimen, was probably struck at Goa, as its obverse bears a device very like the wheel, the symbol of the martyrdom of St. Catherine, the patron saint of Goa. This wheel is often found on coins struck at Goa, as it commemorates the conquest of Goa by the Portuguese on St. Catherine's Day, November 25th, 1510. Its reverse is entirely smooth. Size 27 mm. = $1 1⁄16$ in.; weight 8.9 grammes.

A small coin, represented by five specimens, shows on the obverse a coat-of-arms, and on the reverse a ship, but no inscrip- tion whatever. Size 18 mm. = $3⁄4$ in.; weight 2.2 to 2.4 grammes (pl. I, figs 6 and 6a).

A considerably larger coin shews on the obverse the coat- of-arms, and on the reverse the sphere, but has no inscription either. There are five specimens of it. Size 28 mm. = $1 1⁄8$ in.; weight 10 to 11.2 grammes (pl. I, figs. 3 and 3).

Finally there is a coin represented by only one specimen shewing on the obverse a small coat-of-arms surrounded by large and deeply impressed Roman letters, and on the reverse the sphere. Notwithstanding that the letters are deeply im- pressed and only little worn, they are so very rough, that my efforts to decipher them have not been successful. Size 24 mm. = $15⁄16$ in; weight 3.7 grammes (pl. II, fig. 7).