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The state of Cannanore was centered around the modern city of Kannur in the northern part of the state of Kerala. This was the site where the Portuguese had built a
fort as early as 1505, just a few years after Vasco da Gama's arrival in India. The fort was then completely rebuilt by the Dutch in the 17th century after they had captured it, and
they in turn sold it to the local sultan, the Ali Raja, in the 18th century. The origins of the Ali Rajas are somewhat obscure; they may have been a branch of the local rulers who
converted to Islam. It appears they were originally vassals of the Zamorin in Calicut, but they became allies of Haidar Ali and in this way achieved a measure of independence. By
this time, the British were also exercising considerable influence on the Malabar coast. After they defeated Tipu Sultan, they "restored" Cannanore to its "rightful ruler," the Ali
Raja. An interesting aspect of the Ali Rajas is that, following the tradition in Kerala, they followed a matrilineal descent, so most of the rulers were women.
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Anonymous issues, c. 1790 |
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Cannanore: Silver 1/5 rupee ("velli" fanam or "Bombay billy")
Weight: 2.22 gm. Diameter: 12 mm Die axis: 9 o'clock
Legend, in the name of Alamgir II
Legend, including inverted 5
Reference: Pridmore 295, KM C621, MNI 1744 var
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Originally minted by the British in Bombay, the one-fifth rupee ("velli fanam" or "Bombay Billy") was later minted at Cannanore, even
while naming Bombay as the mint. The velli fanam was intended to replace the small gold fanam, which was small and easily lost, and found wide acceptance. This coin (and the
next) may have been a British issue, or an imitation issued by the Ali Rajas.
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Cannanore: Silver 1/5 rupee ("velli" fanam or "Bombay billy")
Weight: 2.15 gm. Diameter: 12-13 mm Die axis: 11 o'clock
Legend, in the name of Alamgir II and naming Cannonore as the mint
Legend, including inverted 5
Reference: Pridmore 295, KM C621, MNI 1744 var
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Ali Raja Bibi Junumabe II (1777-1819) |
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Cannanore: Silver 1/5 rupee, error date AH 1631 (for 1231)
Weight: 2.26 gm. Diameter: 15 mm Die axis: 7 o'clock
Legend
Legend, AH date 1631 (error for AH 1231 = 1814 CE)
Reference: KM C10, MNI 1150
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Coins with the correct AH 1231 date do exist.
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