| Denominations | |
|---|---|
| Subunit | |
| 10⁄100 | tanga |
| Banknotes | 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 rupia |
| Demographics | |
| Replaced by | escudo |
| User(s) |  Portuguese India |
| Issuance | |
| Bank of issue | Banco Nacional Ultramarino |
| This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. | |
The rupia was the currency of Portuguese India sometime after 1668 until 1958.[1] Prior to 1668, the currency unit was Xerafim (xerafin, xeraphin). In 1666, the Portuguese administration struck a silver coin calling it double xerafin and this was declared equal to a rupia in circulation in India outside of Portuguese possessions.[1] A xerafim was a convertible subunit of rupia, and it was unique to Portuguese colonies in India. One rupia equalled two xerafims.[2][3]
In decades that followed, the double xerafin came to be known in Goa and other Portuguese Indian territories simply as rupia (or Portuguese Indian rupia) was subdivided into units such as reis (real) and pardao that mirrored the currency terms introduced by Portuguese officials in other colonies worldwide.
- ^ a b Asiatic Society of Bombay (1885). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Asiatic Society of Bombay. p. 22.
- ^ George S. Cuhaj; Thomas Michael (2012). Standard Catalog of World Coins - 1801-1900. Krause Publications. p. 736. ISBN 978-1-4402-3085-1.
- ^ "Definition of XERAFIM". Merriam-Webster. 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.