Cochin coins catalog with values online
The Kingdom of Cochin was the only state in South Asia considered a protectorate of China. The king of Cochin had been sending tribute to China since 1411, and then requested a patent of investiture and a seal. The Ming admiral Zheng He delivered to Cochin a stone tablet on which was inscribed a proclamation drafted by Emperor Yongle.
As long as Cochin remained under the protection of the Ming dynasty, the rulers of Calicut feared to invade Cochin, however, when Chinese support ceased Zamorin of Calicut started the war. In the late 15th century, the Zamorins occupied Cochin and installed their protégé as ruler.
In 1500, Portuguese admiral Pedro Álvares Cabral landed in Cochin after being repulsed from Calicut. The king of Cochin welcomed the Portuguese and signed a treaty of friendship. The king allowed 34 Portuguese to build a factories and stay in the kingdom.
In 1502, a new Portuguese expedition under the command of Vasco da Gama arrived in Cochin. The Portuguese helped Cochin in fighting the age-old enemy. Vasco da Gama bombed the port of Calicut and destroyed the Arab factories there. In response, the ruler of Calicut, Zamorin, besieged Cochin and destroyed the Portuguese factories. But soon reinforcements arrived and the siege was lifted.
To protect Cochin from further attacks, on September 27, 1503, the wooden Fort Emmanuel was laid out, which became the first Portuguese fortification in India. In 1505, the wooden fort was replaced by a stone fort. The fort of Castelo de Cima was then built.
Gradually the Portuguese arsenal at Cochin was increased, apparently to help the king defend Cochin. From there the Portuguese exported large quantities of spices.
In 1530, St. Francis Xaverian founded a Christian mission in the city.
Soon after Portuguese rule in Kerala declined and was replaced by the Dutch, who had by then conquered Kollam after various clashes with the Portuguese and their allies. The members of the royal family of Cochin, dissatisfied with the ruler, approached the Dutch for help in overthrowing the Kochin Raja. The Dutch successfully landed at Nyarakala and captured the fort at Pallipuram. Bolgatta Palace, built in 1744 by Dutch traders is one of the oldest existing Dutch palaces outside the Netherlands.
The Mysore ruler Haider Ali subjugated Cochin along with other Malabar states between 1773 and 1776. The Raja was forced to pay tribute to Mysore. During this period, the ruling dynasty of Cochin came to an end.
In 1814, under the Anglo-Dutch treaty, Cochin was ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange for Banka Island.
In 1920, the raja, with the help of Lord Willingdon, then governor of Madras, brought the port engineer Robert Bristow to Cochin. Within 21 years, the latter helped turn Cochin into the safest harbor in South Asia. Ships docked at the inner wharf equipped with steam hoists.
Fort Cochin was converted into a municipality in 1866 and the first municipal council elections were held in 1883. The Maharaja of Cochin initiated local self-government in 1896 by forming town councils at Mattancherry and Ernakulam. In 1925, the Cochin Legislative Assembly was established to help the public participate in governance.
Cochin was the first native principality to voluntarily join the new Dominion of India in 1947.
Principality of Cochin
Cochin Rupee=8 fanam; Fanam=4 chakram; Chakram=32 cash
1 fanam no date (18 century)
Gold
Coin value - 25-30 USD
Coins of Cochin in the catalog are presented divided by historical periods, indicating the main characteristics and differences by type.
Inside the sections, the coins are sorted by denomination - from large to small.
The cost of the coin is approximate and is indicated specifically for the coin shown in the picture. You can use this price to evaluate similar coins (of the same type), but remember that the value is affected by many factors, such as the state of preservation and the date of minting. The cost of coins of the same type can vary greatly depending on the number of surviving copies.
Coins of Cochin presented on this page are not sold or bought - this is only a catalog