Tanga of João III
Portugal
1521–1557
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$10.52
Based on Silver spot price ($80.83/oz) · 90.0% purity · 4.5g
Updated 5:37 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Portugal |
| Years Minted | 1521–1557 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 4.5 g |
| Diameter | 23 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Features the Portuguese coat of arms or the king's monogram.
Reverse
Displays a cross and possibly the denomination.
History & Notable Facts
The Tanga of João III was one of the earliest coins minted specifically for Portuguese India, adapting local silver standards to compete with Mughal currency.
This silver piece, struck at the Goa mint between 1521 and 1557, featured a simple cross on one side and the king's monogram on the other. Weighing around 4.5 grams, it reflected Portugal's pragmatic approach to colonial trade, recycling metals from various sources when supplies ran low. We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that era are scarce.
What surprises me, after handling these for decades, is how myths persist about their rarity. One collector swore he'd found a fortune in Tangas, only to discover they'd been used as fishing weights.
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