Most of the paisa of Native States contained more copper in proportion to their value than the E.I. Company's coin, which was, however, orioinally one tola in weight, and was gradually reclbuced to 100 grains. The Sagar mint was for several years employed in converting the native copper money into Benares or trisuli paisa of 100 grains weight, and 64 to the rupee. At Bombay, the old paisa were bought up by- Government, for the purpose of removing them entirely from circulation, and substituting the new coin. The Bengal Government also adopted a measure to withdraw the trisuli paisa, from circulation, in consequence of their becoming much depreciated in public estimation from a large admixture of spurious coin and other causes; the Calcutta mint being ordered to grant 64 new paisa for 72 trisuli, for an amount not under twenty rupees in value brought for exchange.
The Cowrie shell, Cyprma moneta, has greatly fallen in value, in consequence of the facilities of commerce. In 1740, a rupee exchanged for 2400 cowries ; in 1756, for 2500 ; but latterly- in Calcutta, so many as 6500 cowries could be obtained for a rupee. In Madras, from 1850, cowries had ceased to be used as money; but in Hyderabad of the Dekhan, in 1856, 2688 cowries were to be had for a rupee. Cowrie, in Persian, is simply khar-mohra, literally donkey or mule shell, because mules are ornamented in that country with trappings of shells, as a gosain's bullock and riding horses are in India. In Arabic, it is known by Wuda, which Ibn Batuta says were carried in large quantities frona the Maldive Islands to Bengal, where it was used as a coin, and therefore no doubt can be entertained that the Cyprma moneta was meant. 'It is employed throughout all Southern Asia as an amulet in sickness and to avert the evil eye, pro% ided the rieck-ahell be split or broken. Among European nations, these shells, on account of the fancied resemblance of their shape to that of the back of a little pig, are known by the names of porcelli, porcellian, porcellanen, and porcelaine, whence we have porcelain, the glaze or varnish on the China-ware being similar to that of the cowrie. The English phrases, not a cowrie, and not a cash,' would seem to be derived front these two minute Indian monies.
Dam.—A copper coin of India, now obsolete. In Akbar's time, 40 dam of copper were equivalent in account to one rupee, and the dam of copper is itself defined at 5 tank, or 1 tola 8 masha and 7 rati in weight, which, at 186 grains per tola, is equal to 323.5625 grains. There seem to have
been 9.29 chital in each dam, and in the Sher Shalti rupee 371.8 chital, instead of the old 320 divisional coins of that name and value, which went to the lighter silver piece of former days. In the Ayin - i - Akbari, and in most revenue accounts, the dam is considered the fortieth part of a rupee ; but to the common people it is known as the fiftieth of a tuka ; 25 therefore go to a paisa, and 124 to an adhela.
Denar, a Persian gold coin, from the Latin denarius.
Dirham, an Ambo-Persian silver coin, from the Latin drachma.
Dilli-all or Dili-wal, in A.H. 614, A.D. 1217, was the ordinary coin of the country about Dehli. The original currency, it is supposed, corresponded with the bullion money of Prithi raja and others, which was imitatively adopted by the Muham madans in the early days of their occupation of Hindustan.
Dionree or Damree is commonly known as a nominal coin, equal to 3,i or 3-1 dam, or between 2 and 3 gandas; so that a damree varies from 8 to 12 cowries, according to the goodwill and pleasure of the money-changers.
Fu/us or fals, an ancient Arabic copper coin, named from the Roman loins, the modern lulus of the Persian Gulf.
Ganda, HIND., is four pice.
Japan has the silver ichibu, 132.5 grains ; ni shoo, 25.3 grains. The gold koban or kobang of Japan, A.D. 1783 and 1796, 240 grains, was coined by the Dutch E.I. Company.
Japan, in 1877, imported 2,072,673 dollars, but exported 10,079,200.
The Osaco mint coined 690,602 gold yen, 3,895,1361 silver sen, and 1,115,8171 copper sen and rin ; total, 5,701,555,i The silver yen is identical in size with the Mexican dollar. The ichibu silver coin is no longer current. Since 1875, the new Japanese trade silver dollar is four grains heavier than the silver yen, and is identical with the American dollar.
Masha, a weight in India varyin,g from 14-687 to 18.5 grains troy, the average being 15i grains. The rupee of Akbar, which was based upon that of Sher Shah, weighed eleven and a half masha.
Maur, from Mohr, HIND., a seal, is a gold coin of value 15 or 16 rupees, now uncurrent in India.
Nepal coins. —Nepal was conquered by the Gurkhas in the Newar year 888, corresponding with A.D. 1768. Prior to this epoch, the valley of Khatmandu was divided into three sovereignties, Patan, Bhatgaon, and Khatmandu, each governed by a raja. Hence, on the Newer coins, three series of rajas' names are found, those of Bhatgaon being generally distinguished by a shell, those of Patan by a trisul, and those of Khattnandu by a sword.