Coin Shopping Around The World

Time for a new post, and as I am in Sri Lanka right now, why not just post about this island country?

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is that tiny island country hanging just below India on the map. It's probably best known for it's tea production, mango juice, deviled chicken and enormous corruption. Seriously, I haven't met anyone here who didn't try to take advantage of me, up to the levels of far beyond annoying.

The local currency is the 'Rupee'. 100 cents go in one rupee. Not that you'll encounter any rupee cents in everyday life, though, as there are about 150 rupees in a dollar and the coins of 25 and 50 cents have pratically disappeared. The smallest denomination you'll probably encounter is a one rupee coin, if you're lucky: quite often a bill is rounded up the nearest 5 or 10 rupees, and never in your advantage (as said: beyond annoying).

Sri Lanka's history and monetary history are quite interesting and go back a long way. Despite the land having had to deal with three of the Big Four of colonization (the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British, but not so much the Spaniards), there is quite a bit to see and do here. Most tourists would probably fancy a trip to Kandy in the center of the country, or to Jaffna in Tamil area in the north. Also for example Trincomalee, Galle and Anuradhapura might be seen as interesting for a variety of reasons. Colombo, the biggest city of the country, has surprisingly little to offer, except from the relatively best hotels and restaurants in this country. The capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, has absolutely nothing of interest to anyone who's not into the local politics.

The monetary history has been quite interesting, too, with having had a.o. the rixdollar, the Indian rupee and the British Pound as currencies. And of course the already mentioned Sri Lankan rupee. TO add extra spice, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (founded 1950) has issued a nice list of commemorative coins since 1957. The nice news is that a lot of these also can be found in circulation.

Banks around here don't seem to have any coins for sale. I entered a few and none had a clue of what I was talking about when I stated that I was looking for Sri Lankan coins, Ceylon coins, commemorative coins or coin sets. So either I had bad luck or it just doesn't work this way around here.

Sri Lanka is still recovering from a civil war and a few centuries of abuse as a colony. Recovery goes extra slow due to the huge amount of corruption. As such, there's not much to be found here of a numismatic community. Most of what's here is strategically located and aiming at tourists, it seems. So let's have a closer look!


Colombo

Colombo is the by far largest city in Sri Lanka and often mistaken for the capital of the country. It isn't. A suburb with the unpronounceable name of Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (or simply Kotte) is. Nevertheless, Colombo is the entry point for almost 100% of all foreigners into the country. Most points of interest are located in the historical area called 'Fort' and further down Galle Road, Viharamahadevi Park and Gangaramaya Park. Fort is also where you find the four points of interest for any numismatic cravings.

When your tuk-tuk (or the bus) has dropped you off near the clock tower, you advance into Chatham street. There are two coin shops (also selling a lot of other curiosities) right next to each other: at number 68 and 68B. They both claim that the other shop is their shop too, or that the other one is closed, or that the other shop has only fake coins... Oh well, you get the idea. And both offer you 'fantastic low prices for you, my friend'. The assortment doesn't vary much: a lot of circulated local coins and coins from the Indian peninsula. If you decide to buy here, then keep the local prices in mind. It may sound cheap to buy a coin for 150 rupees, but 150 rupees also buys you a new leather wallet, a belt or even a hot meal here. So make sure you haggle. A lot. As you are a tourist, don't be ashamed to start at 10% of what the merchant asks. That's most likely the price locals pay, so you pay too much anyway.

When you're done dealing with the two neighbors, you advance to York street, where you'll find a few merchants of lottery tickets, a few beggars and sometimes one old lady with some stamps, banknotes and coins. All coins are circulated in a variety of degrees. She's either in York street or in the adjacent Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha street, somewhere under the concrete pillars. She has mainly old coins from Ceylon for sale, in all possible grades. Also haggle a bit here, even though her prices aren't that bad. I didn't see her around every day, so you may have to try again.

When you're done here, you continue the walk down Sir Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha street until you reach 1st Cross street: you'll recognize it by the chaos and pure traffic infarct that rules this part of town. walk it down all the way to Olcott Mawatha street and make sure that you buy a new wallet and belt on the way. A pair of new leather shoes should set you back no more than 1200 rupees, or $8. When you reach Olcott Mawatha street, turn left and head for 2nd Cross street. You'll see and old man here at about the beginning of the street who has a lot of things for sale, including circulated coins and bank notes. He seems to be doing good business, so you may have to use your elbows to get to the front and see what he has to offer.

When you're done, head for one of the largely overpriced restaurants or cafes near the Dutch Hospital for a well-deserved break with a glass of ice cold iced tea.


The rest of the country

Surprisingly (or maybe not really), the rest of the country doesn't have anything to offer. You won't be able to give in to any numismatic cravings when in, for example, Kandy, Jaffna, Galle, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, et cetera.


Some more tips

As said, this country is as corrupt as it gets and it even became a big annoyance to me (and trust me, I've seen a bit of the world). If you decide to go here, then do a bit of planning ahead. No matter what, you're not here for the first time, you know all the rules, there's no messing with you, right? So if your tuk-tuk driver tells you that your hotel is closed, burnt down or that the attraction you intend to visit is closed or under siege by the government or aliens, but that he has a good alternative, just tell him to bugger off and find another tuk-tuk. Also, don't be surprised when people still try to intimidate or even threaten you to get money out of you. I'm 6" tall and about one foot taller than the average guy around here (and a tad broad shouldered), but still they tried.

Avoid anyone who approaches you. They all want money from you. One thing that really got them puzzled was when I started telling them that I am from Faeroe Islands. No one knows where it is, so they don't know how to continue their act and they just leave. Ignore all the thousands of tuk-tuk drivers who approach you. For an authentic experience, hop on a local bus (about 15 rupees for a short ride). I do hope that you have a good health insurance, though.

Food for locals is served in hotels: the definition of 'hotel' seems to differ quite a bit from the rest of the world: not all hotels offer a place to sleep. Hotels without beds do seem to be the right place to pick up an exotic disease for your digestive system, though. Better stick to regular restaurants.

Thank you for the latest installment.

Pleased to read the new installment. Thank you.

I really do enjoy reading the adventures of a coin collector.

Thanks for posting them

Excellent update.

My brother went to the Bahamas for his honeymoon over twenty years ago. He brought me a set which included a 1992 one cent, 1984 five cents, 1989 ten cents, 1992 fifteen cents, 1991 twenty-five cents, and 1966 fifty cents. He also got me a 1966 one dollar, which was in a separate holder. The holders were most definitely made with softened PVC, so they were all moved to cardboard 2x2s and place in my miscellaneous Dansco.

Who knows. Things may have been different back in '96. I may have to ask him where it got it, if he remembers at all.

With my US collection coming down to the more pricey key dates, I think my dark side collection will find more love in the coming year.

Excellent post!