1580 - 1598 - Portuguese Ceilão
Copper - Quarter Bazaruco - Cross_L

The copper Quarter Bazaruco with a Cross_L monogram struck in Colombo, fort São Lourenço for circulation in Ceilão.

SPECIFICATIONS
Denomination1/4 Bazaruco
AlloyCopper
TypeStruck
Diameter8. mm
Thickness_._ mm
Weight mean0.75 gms
Weight0.71 gms
ShapeElliptical
EdgeSmooth
DieAxis_____°
MintCeilão
 F1_01.01_obverse F1_01.01_reverse
Codrington Unlisted ; Gomes F1:01.01 ; KM #2
Obverse : Cross in line circle
Reverse : Cross_L monogram perhaps signifying São Lourenço in line circle

Gomes (F1:01.01) attributes this issue to D. Filippe I (1580-1598), who was proclaimed sovereign of Ceilão in 1597. Portugal ruled the coastlands of the island with the interior remaining with the King of Kandy.

Mitchiner lists Quarter Bazaruco from 0.6 to 0.85 grams and lists Cross_L monogram (#2154-2155) and reversed monogram (#2156). For the later period of D. Filippe II the weight range for the 1/4 Bazaruco is given as 0.9-1.2, which is considerable higher. Krause gives 1.2-1.3 grams for 1/4 Bazaruco listed at KM#1-KM#2.
Anonymous Bazarucos are attributed to the various rulers, probably by mean weight of each type of issue.

Text from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
  Chapter VIII Portuguese - Plate xxx. Page xxx
* The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories- 1601-1948
  C. Scholten, 1953, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman. page xxx-xxx
* Moedas Portuguesas 1128-1988, by Alberto Gomes. Lisbon 1987
* Collection Henry Thomas Grogan, J. Schulman, Auction 23-02-1914.
* Non-Islamic and Western Colonies since 600 AD by by Michael Mitchiner.

I thank Jan Lingen who kindly sent me the 300 dpi scans of these rare coin from his collection and are displayed at xxx dpi.