A square coin from an island off India, with a short-reigning British king

Ceylon

(Ceylon in green on a globe of the world. The country just to the left (grey) is India, and the large ocean (white) is the Indian ocean. Map: Wikipedia).

Ceylon, today known as Sri Lanka, is a small island country. Ranking 118 out of 184 United Nations countries, it has a teardrop shape, with an area of 65,610 km² (40768 mi²). Situated just to the east off the southern tip of India, the maximum length of the island is 432 km (268 mi) and the maximum width is 224 km (139 mi). The island is wider in the south and narrows towards the north. The south central area is mountainous, with enchanting scenery that has attracted many a visitor from foreign lands over the centuries. Some of the high peaks in the central highlands rise about 2000m above the sea level. Among these, Piduruthalagala being the highest at 2524m.

The central mountain region is surrounded by a plain, rising above the sea level up to about 300 m. This plain spreads over two thirds of the total area of the island. It is narrow and somewhat ragged in the south west but broad and flat in the north and east.

The territorial sea of a country is 12 nautical miles (about 22 km) from its coast. from its coast. Within this zone, the coastal state exercises full sovereignty over the water, airspace, seabed, and subsoil, although foreign vessels are allowed “innocent passage”. With a coastline of 1,790km, the country’s marine economic zone, comprising some 230,000 km² is nearly four times its land area.

History

To the Greeks and Romans the island was called Taprobane, in Pali Tambapanni. This properly was the name of a district on the north-west coast, in ancient times the portion of the country best known to seafaring traders; as in the ease of India and of Asia itself the name of the part has been transferred to the `whole. As the name passed through Sanskrit, Arabic and Portuguese, and then to English, it became Sinhala or Sihala. This is still the name of the Kandyan districts, which last retained their independence, and is the origin of the name “Ceylon”.

(Blue train gliding across the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella. Completed in 1921 during British colonial rule, this stone viaduct—built without steel—arcs gracefully over a lush jungle valley, framed by lush tea plantations. Photo: Independent-photo.com).

Archaeology dates human settlement back to the Neolithic age, although little is known of the first inhabitants. Documented history began with the arrival of the Aryans from North India. The Aryans introduced the use of iron and an advanced form of agriculture and irrigation. They also introduced government. Buddhism was introduced in 247 B.C. by Arahat Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka of India.

The island was under periodic invasion and rule from various rulers from southern India. In 1505, the Portuguese came and established the city of Kotte, in the western lowlands. While they initially came to trade in spices, they stayed to rule, until they were displaced by the Dutch in 1656. In turn, the British took over in 1796. Throughout, the kingdom of Kandy continued independently in the geographically challenging highlands, however it was ceded to the British in 1815.

Modern communications, western medical services, education in English, as well as the plantation industry (first coffee then tea, rubber and coconut) developed during British rule. Ceylon was seen as a colonial name; so, the country was renamed at independence in 1972. Now called “Lanka”, to which an honorific “Sri” was added, is much older and is close to both the Sinhalese and Tamil names for the island. “Ceylon tea“, popularised by the Dilmah brand, is one of the most well known products which still bears the “Ceylon” name.

Obverse

The obverse of the coin features a crowned bust of King Edward VII facing right. Around the edge is “Edward VII King & Emperor. Edward VII was king from 1901 – 1909. If you would like to put together a collection of coins from Ceylon during his reign, you only have seven coins to chase. The most expensive may be the 50 cents, by virtue of it’s 5..83g silver content, followed by the rarer 1904 1/4 cent, which has a mintage of 103,000. In contrast, this 5 cent coin is among the most common with a mintage of 2 million in 1909 and 4 million in 1910.

Reverse

The reverse features the country name at the top and year at the bottom, with the denomination “5 Cents” in the centre. To either side is the value in both Sinhala, Tamil.

The first 5 cent coin was issued under Victoria from 1870 – 1892. This coin was round and featured a palm tree in the centre. No coins of this denomination were issued from 1892 until today’s piece in 1909, and from then, the denomination was issued semi-regularly until 1991. Starting with the 1909 coin, the 5 cents became square with the ruler changing through George V and then George VI. There was a gap from 1945 to 1963 as the country was preparing for Independence. At that time, the obverse was updated to feature the country’s coat of arms. The reverse was changed slightly, though still with the number 5 large in the centre, and values in English, Sinhala and Tamil. There are six of these square 5 cent coins throughout the years:

• 1909-10: Copper-Nickel: Edward VII (Old reverse)
• 1912-36: Copper-Nickel: George VI (Old reverse)
• 1942-5: Nickel-Brass: George VI (Old reverse)
• 1963-71: Nickel-Brass (Ceylon Coat of Arms, new reverse)
• 1975: Nickel-Brass (Sri Lanka Coat of arms, new reverse)
• 1978-91: Aluminium (Same as 1975 otherwise)

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