1/2 Abbasi / 2 Shahi Counterstamped

The VOC acquired Colombo from the Portuguese in 1656 and almost immediately faced the practical problem of a fragmented local currency. Persian-influenced Abbasi coinage had circulated on Ceylon for decades, and rather than strike an entirely new issue, Company officials authorized counterstamping existing half-Abbasi pieces — a faster and cheaper solution that also acknowledged what merchants and traders already accepted. The date range reflects not a single minting event but an extended policy across multiple VOC governorships of the island.

The KM numbers reflect genuine variety in the counterstamp punches used across different administrations and locations, Colombo and Galle being the primary candidates.