Tranquebar Coins with ship’s names.
In the first 50 years Tranquebar was Danish,
lead-coins were minted with the names of most of the
ships, which sailed to Tranquebar. Ships, which sailed from Tranquebar and had
their names on coins, were either send out from Denmark, bought in India or
captured in the privateer war against Bengal.
The connection between the ships and the coins with
ship’s names is not clear. It was a big event in the small colony when ships
came from Denmark. The coins might have been given
ship’s names to mark the occasion. It has also been suggested
that the coins with ship’s names has been minted for the account of the ships
concerned.
Ships send from Denmark and the matching coins:
|
|
|
|
Coin |
|
|
Skip |
Stay in Tranquebar |
KM |
Obverse |
Reverse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christianshavn |
1623 - Sep 1623 |
7 |
DANN ISBOR G |
CHRIS TIANS HAFN |
|
Perlen |
Mar 1624 - Sep 1624 |
8 |
DAN NISB ORG |
PER LEN |
|
Jupiter |
Mar 1624 stranded |
9 |
DAN NISB ORG |
IVP TER |
|
Christianshavn |
1623 - Sep 1623 |
7 |
DANN ISBOR G |
CHRISTIANSHAFN |
|
Fortuna |
Sep 1631 - 1644+ |
6 |
DAN NSBO RG |
FOR TUNA |
|
Keda eller Queda |
|
10 |
DAN NISB ORG |
KEDA |
|
St. Anna |
Sep 1636 - Jan 1637 |
14 |
DAN NISB ORG |
St. ANNA |
|
Charitas |
1632 – 1641 |
15 |
DAI NISO ORG |
CHA RIT AS |
|
St. Jacob |
1636 – 1640 |
16 |
DA NISB ORG |
St. IACO B |
|
Valdebye |
1638 - 1647+ |
18 |
DA NISB ORG |
VAL DE BYE |
|
The Bengalske Prise |
1642 – 1643 |
23 |
DANS BORG |
NIJ BE |
|
The forg. Sol |
Sep 1640 - Mar 1643 |
24 |
DANS BORG |
D SOL |
|
Fortuna |
Sep 1631 - 1644+ |
26 |
Crowned C4 |
FOR TUN |
|
Posthesten |
1628 - 1635+ |
27 |
Crowned C4 |
HO PO |
|
Christianshafn |
1643 – 1650 |
34 |
Crowned C4 |
CH CAS 1645 |
|
St. Michael |
1644 |
36 |
Crowned C4 |
St MICAEL |
|
St. Peder St. Poul |
1645 - 1652+ |
40 |
Crowned C4 |
SP:SP 1646 D:B |
|
Valdebye |
1638 – 1647 |
42 |
Crowned C4 |
W:B. 1647 |
|
Christianshafn |
1643 – 1650 |
51 |
Crowned F3 |
CH 1650 |
|
St. Peder St. Poul |
1645 - 1652+ |
52 |
Crowned F3 |
.S.P.P.50 |
The list includes all the ships that came to Trankebar
from Denmark during the period of 20 years from 1623 to 1643. After 1643 for 29
years no ships were sent to India because of the
troubled conditions in Denmark.
Coins from all ships have been found,
with the exception of one, Nattergalen. The
Nightingale came to Trankebar in 1624 and was lost
1626 in the Bay of Bengal.
hips purchased in India:
Ship
Stay in Trankebar KM
Coin Obverse
Reverse
Queda or Keda 11 DANNISBORG KE DA
Post Hesten
1628 - 1635+
27 Crown C4
HO PO
Valdebye 1638 - 1647+ 18 DANISBORG VAL DE BYE
Valdebye 42 Crowned C4 W: B 1647
In addition, other cutters, sampaner
and junker were bought.
Ships conquered in the war against the Bengal:
Ship
Stay in Trankebar KM
Coin
Obverse
Reverse
Den Bengalske prise 1642 – 1643 23 DANS BORG NIJ BE
St Micael
1644
36 Crowned
C4
St MICA EL
St. Peder and St. Povl
40 Crowned
C4
SPSP 1646 DB
St. Peder and St. Povl
52 Crowned
F3
S..P. P 50
The following ship’s names
appear on coins:
Christianshafn.
Christianshafn was a skip of 180 laester
(old measurement for ships, about 400 t). It was bought
for 10.500 rigsdaler and it has been fit out for the journey for 56.000
rigsdaler. Christianshafn left Copenhagen the 8th October 1622. One of the
crewmembers was the Icelandic soldier Jon Olafsson. In his book: "Oplevelser som ostindiafarer under Christian IV" he has given one of
the most comprehensive descriptions of the conditions on the voyage to India
and about the stay in Tranquebar.
Christianshafn left Tranquebar the 15th of September 1923
and was back in Copenhagen the 27th of May 1924. The cargo consisted of 400
barrels of pepper and a lot of linen. It was a valuable cargo.
Christianshafn managed to go to Tranquebar two more
times.
The second time it left Copenhagen soon after the homecoming
in 1624. It served in India some years and returned from the second voyage in
1635. The Cargo in 1635 was bought in India for 58.000
rigsdaler. It consisted of 83.940 pounds of clove, 73.893 pounds of pepper and
some other commodity. The cargo was sold for
145.000 rigsdaler.
The coin with the inscription DANISBORG CHRIS TIANS HAFN originates the first stay in
Tranquebar.
KM 7. DAN ISBOR G
CHRIS TIANS HAFN 
The third time Christianshafn left Copenhagen together
with the ship Den forgyldte Sol in 1639. Near the Canarian Islands the ship was
damaged by a storm and had to go to Tenerife for repair. It was seize by the
Spanish, and only after long diplomatic negotiations, the ship was released in 1643. In September 1643,
Christianshafn reached Tranquebar for the third time. It now served in India
for several years.
Christianshavn was
Governor Willum Leyels main ship in the privateer war against
Bengal.
It took part in the capture of St. Michael, St. Peder and St Povl, a Bengal fregatta and many bigger and smaller ships.
In 1645-46 Christianshavn was on a trade mission to Macassar on
Celebes with a cargo of textiles.
When Christianshavn in 1649
returned to Tranquebar from a voyage to Macassar, it was in a bad shape.
Information’s from 1652 says that the ship now is of no use.
After the arrival of Christianshafn in 1643, no more
ships came from Denmark to Tranquebar in the next 30 years.
From Christianshavns last
stay two coins are known:
KM34. Crowned
C4 CH CAS 1645
KM 51. Crowned
F3 CH 1650
Perlen.
Perlen was a pinasse of 500 laester. It was bought for 21.500
rd. To this must be added equipment/fit out for the journey
for Perlen and Jupiter together for 110.00 rd.
Perlen was the biggest ship, which came to Tranquebar
during the time of Christian the Fourth.
Perlen left Copenhagen together with Jupiter the 27th
of March 1623. On the voyage back to Tranquebar was
Governor Roland Crappe.
The
ships reached Tranquebar the 15th of March 1624. The town was
besieged by Naik
of Tanjores
general Calincut with a force which was told to be of
40.000 men. The force to
defend Tranquebar was reduced to
only 30 men. The reinforcement came in the last moment.
Calincut gave up the besiege, when the two ships arrived with reinforcement.
Perlen started the homeward passage from Tranquebar
the 24th of September 1624. On the homeward passage was the
Icelandic soldier Jon Olafsson. He describes the stay in Tranquebar and
homeward passage in his memoirs. The homeward passage became long and
dangerous. The ship ran into a rough storm and lost mast and rudder. Harbour in
Ireland was reached in June 1625. First
the 30th of July 1626 Perlen reached Copenhagen with the cargo
intact.
KM 8. DAN NISB ORG
PER LEN 
Jupiter.
Jupiter was a cutter. It was valued at 2.300 rd. It
left Copenhagen in March 1623 together with Perlen. The arrival of the two
ships to Tranquebar in March 1624 made Calincut, the
general of the Naik of Tanjore, give up the besiege of
Tranquebar.
During the time of waiting for the cargo to be
collected for the homeward passage, Jupiter was sent
on a trade mission to Macassar on Celebes. After a successful journey to Macassar
and Bantam, Jupiter was wrecked off the coast of
Bengal in 1625. 45 men drowned, only 8 men of the crew
saved their lives, and a valuable cargo was lost. The stranding was a hard blow
for the company, which was suffering from lack of men and capital.
KM
9. DAN NISB ORG IVP TER
Queda
eller Keda.
Keda was a small ship, which
Roland bought in India.
Keda or Kedah or Queda is today a state in Malaysia. In the time of
Christian the Fourth, Kedah was a small state
under Siam, and was one of the places, where the Danes traded.
Queda was wrecked near Masulipatam, while it was chartered by
some Englishmen.
KM 10.
DAN NISB ORG KE DA
Fortun.
Fortun was a small vessel. It left Copenhagen the 2nd
December 1629 together with the navel vessel Flensborg. Near the Cape Flensborg
fought with Portuguese ships. Flensborg
burst into flames and blow up.
Fortun reached Tranquebar the 29th of September 1631
after a very hard journey with loss of most of the crew. Fortun served in India
for several years.
In 1642 the dismissed
governor Pessart flees Masulipatam in Fortuna.
In 1644 Fortun is mentioned
in connection with the Danish clergyman Christen Pedersen Storm. He was put in jailed for impious life, assault and battery,
rape and murder. He tried to bribe some soldiers to release him and flee with him
on Fortuna. The plan was revealed and he was sentenced
to death by being put into a sack and sunk into the sea. The sentence was carried out the same day.
Two coins are known with the
name FORTUN on the reverse. The first coin has the same obverse as the
coins TRANGEBARI, BEWINTHEBER and T DOC B.
The second coin has same obverse as the coin HOPO, a
crowned C4.
There are several years between the two coins. Perhaps
the two coins do not refere to the same ship.
KM
6. DAN NSBO RG FOR TUN 
KM 26. Crowned
C4 FOR TUN
Charitas.
The cutter Charitas left
Copenhagen in 1631. Charitas served in India for a
number of years.
Charitas was after Christianshavns homeward passage in1634 the only bigger
ship Ronald Crappe had at his disposal.
In 1634 Charitas
made a successful journey to Macassar at Celebes. It arrived to Masulipatam, which was the centre for trade at the Coromandelcoast, with a good cargo of clove and
tortoiseshells. In 1636 and 1637 Charitas was again
send to Macassar.
Charitas was
probably the ship, which was wrecked near Petrapoliin in 1641.
Part of CHARTIAS coins are stroke on other coins. Some
of these are stroke on the coin CHRISTIANSHAFN.
CHARITAS coins are often poorly made.
The letters are not clear. The stroke is often poor. It could indicate that
CHARITAS coins are made in a hurry and in a troubled
period.
KM 15. DAN NISB
ORG CHA RIT AS 
St. Anna.
St. Anna was a pinasse of
350 laester (900 tons). It left in 1635 Copenhagen
together with St Iacob.
St. Anna arrived to Tranquebar the 2nd September 1636.
Since Christianshavn was
send to Denmark in 1634, there were no ships to send home. In the period of waiting Roland Crappe had gathered
a big amount of clove. Therefore St. Anna could
quickly get a cargo. After only four months stay in
Tranquebar it left in January 1637 with a big cargo of clove and arrived to
Copenhagen the 4th November 1637.
The cargo of clove was bought
in India for 76.000 rigsdaler. The sale in Copenhagen gave 200.000 rigsdaler.
Governor Roland Crappe left
Tranquebar with St. Anna after 15 years as commandant and governor in
Tranquebar. Ronald Crappe had been active since the
acquirement of Tranquebar in 1620.
St. Anna was the last ship, which came to Copenhagen
during the reign of Christian the Fourth.
KM 14. DAN NISB
ORG St. AN NA
St. Iacob.
St. Iacob was a ship of 130 laester.
It left Copenhagen together with St Anna in 1635.
St. Iacob reached Tranquebar the 3rd September 1636.
It was a day later than St. Anna.
St. Iacob was used for some
years to sail in between Masulipatam in India and the
Danish offices in Bantam and Macassar in Indonesia. On the way to India in 1640
with a valuable cargo from Macassar, St. Iacob was pushed
by storm into the Bay of Bengal. Here the skip searched for shelter in Pipely, but the governor did not allow the ship to enter
the harbour and it was wrecked. 16
Danish sailors died and the valuable cargo was lost. Later the Danes in
Tranquebar made Bengal responsible for the shipwreck and demanded 25.000
rigsdaler in compensation for the ship and 150.000 rigsdaler for the cargo.
This shipwreck provoked the privateer war against
Bengal.
KM
16. DA NISB ORG St IACO B
Valdebye.
In 1638 the Danish governor
Pessart was in Masulipatam. The ships he had sent to
Bengal did not come back. St. Jacob was waiting in Indonesia for ships from
China. Therefore he bought a ship which had just
arrived from Ceylon. Pessart bought the skip for 1500 pagodas and it was named Valdebye. It was used for
several years.
In August 1644 Valdebye
together with Christianshafn was sent privateering in the Bay of Bengal. The
ship did not exist in 1652.
Two coins are known which
refer to the skip Valdebye.
KM
18. DA NISB ORG VAL DE BYE
KM 42. Crowned
C4 WB 1647
"Den forgyldte
Sol" = D SOL (the gilded sun)
"Den forgyldte
Sol" was a skip of 180 laester. It was bought for 15.700 rd. It left Copenhagen in 1639
together with Christianshafn. The skips were send to investigate the conditions
in Tranquebar and eventually dismiss Governor Bernd Pessart. It was the
intention to investigate if the rumours, which had reached Copenhagen, were
true. The rumours told about the mismanagement of Pessart in Tranquebar.
Den forgyldte Sol under the
command of Claus Rytters reached Tranquebar in Oktober 1640. In Tranquebar, everything was in disorder and
decay. Governor Pessart was in debtors' prison in the big town Masulipatnam.
Claus Rytter did not find
any help in Tranquebar, and he vent on a trade
mission with Den forgyldte Sol. Han started the
privateer war against Bengal, who was made responsible
for the shipwreck of St. Iacob.
In April 1642 "Den forgyldte Sol" captured a big Bengali ship. The ship was named "Den Bengalske Prise".
Perhaps the coin with the name NIS BE relate to this Bengali ship.
Claus Rytter succeeded in
collecting a cargo. In March 1643 He left Tranquebar
with “Den forgyldte Sol”. Homeward passage was
long and difficult. For a while the ship was waiting off
the coast of Madagascar, Then by the Cape. After one years
journey it landed the 18th March 1644 in Brazil.
After some time the ship reached Europe. Near England
Den forgyldte Sol wrecked
and ship and crew was seize.
The coins D SOL and NIS BE have the same obverse with
the inscription: DANS BORG, so the two coins must have been
minted at about the same time.
KM
24. DANS BORG D SOL
"Den Bengalske Prise" = NIS BE?
When Claus Rytter started
the privateer war against Bengal with Den forgyldte
Sol in 1642 he seized a big Bengali ship. The ship was incorporated in the fleet of Claus Rytter
and was given the name "Den Bengalske
Prise".
Den Bengalske Prise sailed
together with Christianshafn and Valdebye in 1643 to Emeldy
in Colconda state. Her
"Den Bengalske Prise" run aground and was wrecked.
NIS BE or NIJ BE or NY BE is difficult to interpret.
It has been interpret to mean the name of the town Nibe
in Denmark.
The coin NIS BE has the same obverse as D SOL and
LÆSØ. Overstamps indicate that the coin NIS BE is
earlier than D SOL.
NIS BE could be a coin with a ships name. BE in NIS BE
could stand for Bengal, and in that case it could refer to the ship "Den Bengalske Prise".
KM 23. DANS BORG NIS
BE
HO PO = Posthesten.
Posthesten (Post
horse) are the name of a ship bought in India by Roland Crappe
in 1628. Posthesten was in use for many years in
India. Coins with HO PO are supposed to refer to the ship Posthesten.
Posthesten was breaken up
in India.
KM 27. Crowned C4
HO PO 
St Micael.
St Micael was a cutter,
which was captured in the privateer war against
Bengal. The cutter was captured on the day of the
Saint Micael, the 29th September 1644, therefore the
name St. Micael. The cutter did service for several
years in the costal and middle distance trade. It was mentioned that St Micael vent to Queda
for trade in 1645.
KM 36. Crowned C4
St MICA EL 
"St Peder St Poul".
The cutter "St Peder St
Poul" was one of the ships that were captured in the privateer war against Bengal about
1645. It later took part in the privateer war on Danish side
In 1647 it was on a trade
mission to Macassar with a cargo of canvas and linen. It was
traded for clove and sandalwood, which was sold in India.
In 1648 it was forcer aground
by the Portuguese. It was taken of
the ground again.
In1652 "St Peder St Poul" was the only ship left in Tranquebar.
Two coins refer to the ship "St Peder St Poul":
Photo KM 40. Crowned
C4 SPSP 1646 DB
Photo KM 52.
Crowned
F3 SPP 50 
