View source for Ceylonese rixdollar

{{Short description|Erstwhile currency of British Ceylon}}
[[File:Reverse of Ceylon Government copper elephant dump coin (1803), Hannover, Germany, 2014.jpg|thumb|Copper 4-stiver coin, 1803]]
The '''rixdollar''' was the currency of [[British Ceylon]] until 1828. It was subdivided into 48 ''stivers'', each of 4 ''duit''. Units called the ''[[Madras fanam|fanam]]'' and ''larin'' were also used, worth 4 and 9½ stiver, respectively. The currency derived from the [[Dutch rijksdaalder]] and [[stuiver]], although the rijksdaalder was worth 50 stuiver.

Initially containing over 25 grams fine silver worth 4 [[shilling]]s and [[pence|sixpence]] in the 17th century, the Ceylonese rixdollar was worth just one-third this amount by the 19th century. In 1825 it was replaced by [[Pound sterling|sterling]] coin at a rate of 1 rixdollar = 1{{frac|2}} [[shilling]]s, less than the [[Indian rupee]] which was worth about 1{{frac|11|12}} shillings.

==Coins==
[[File:British Ceylon, one stiver 1815. George III.jpg|thumb|Copper one stiver coin, 1815]]
The [[Dutch East India Company|Netherlands United East India Company]] (VOC) issued coins during the 18th century in denominations of {{frac|8}} and 1 [[duit]], {{frac|4}}, 1, 2 and {{frac|4|3|4}} [[stuiver]] and 1 rixdollar.

After the British took over Ceylon, dump coins (crudely struck copper pieces) were introduced in 1801 in denominations of {{frac|48}}, {{frac|24}} and {{frac|12}} rixdollar. In 1802, milled, copper coins for {{frac|192}}, {{frac|96}} and {{frac|48}} rixdollar were added, although the dump coins continued to be produced until 1816. Silver coins were introduced in 1803 for 24, 48 and 96 stivers.

In 1815, copper {{frac|2}}, 1 and 2 stuiver coins were issued, equal in value to the {{frac|96}}, {{frac|48}} and {{frac|24}} rixdollar denominations. Silver rixdollar coins were issued in 1821.

==Banknotes==
The Government of Ceylon issued notes denominated in rixdollars, including 5 rixdollar notes in 1809 and 2 rixdollars in 1826.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{Portal|Money|Numismatics|Sri Lanka}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{numis cite SCWC | date=1979}}
*{{numis cite SCWPM | date=1994}}
{{refend}}

{{Historical currencies of Sri Lanka}}
{{European presence in Ceylon}}
{{dollar}}

[[Category:Currencies of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Coins of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Modern obsolete currencies]]
[[Category:1828 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Dollar]]


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