India Portuguese Goa 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 Xerafins 1762 to 1806

Before the age of transcontinental highways and gigantic container ships, numerous countries had East Indian Companies that operated with the goals of establishing trading colonies for spices and other exotic goods around the Indian Ocean.

Goa is a tiny area in southwestern India which existed as a Portuguese province for over 450 years. It was annexed by India only in 1961. A local mint operated to produce coins known under the denomination xerafin, which is a nasalized pronunciation of xeraphim, 'an old monetary unit of Bombay, equal to three fifths of a rupee.'

Six denominations were produced with the cross and shield pattern shown - 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 xerafins. The denomination appears on the side with the cross. Approximately:

1 XERAFIM: 8 mm diameter
2 XERAFINS: 10 mm diameter, 0.8 grams
4 XERAFINS: 12 mm diameter, 1.6 grams
8 XERAFINS: 14 mm, 3.2 grams
12 XERAFINS: 18 mm, 4.9 grams

Watch out for counterfeits; these are valuable coins. The one in our picture comes from Baldwin's where it sold for $1050 US dollars in a 2007 auction. All values below are very approximate. CoinQuest thanks Baldwin's for use of their coin image.

1 XERAFIM (no date, 1766)
worn: $200 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1200

2 XERAFINS (1762 to 1774)
worn: $250
average circulated: $1400

4 XERAFINS (1763 to 1764)
worn: $500
average circulated: $2500

4 XERAFINS (1765 to 1795)
worn: $200
average circulated: $1600

8 XERAFINS (1763)
worn: $800
average circulated: $3400

8 XERAFINS (1766 to 1773)
worn: $400
average circulated: $1600

8 XERAFINS (1778 to 1795)
worn: $500
average circulated: $3200

12 XERAFINS (1762 to 1806)
worn: $400
average circulated: $1700

Many fakes and reproductions exist of these interesting pieces. Only deal with trusted sellers when it comes to rare and valuable coins.

The values on this page are catalog values. Actual buy and sales values will differ significantly along with the eye-appeal of the coin and the sales method. Please see our Important Terminology page found at the top left in order to properly interpret these catalog values.
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