Dutch India – 1 Cash Copper Coin, Pondicherry (1693–1698)

Description

This historic 1 Cash copper coin was issued under Dutch India at Pondicherry during the short period when the Dutch occupied the French settlement between 1693 and 1698.
The obverse depicts a formalized standing figure of the deity Kali, an uncommon and culturally significant design reflecting the local influence on colonial coinage.
The reverse carries a three-line Tamil legend reading Pudu / cher / i, clearly identifying the mint town.
Weighing 1.18 grams, this coin represents a very short-lived issue, making it notably scarcer than regular colonial emissions.
Referenced as MNI 1616 var, this piece is an excellent example of early European–Indian monetary history.
A highly desirable coin for collectors of Dutch India, Pondicherry, Tamil legends, and short-issue colonial coinage.