Expert: Dr Kavan Ratnatunga - 2/11/2012

Question
QUESTION: i have just got my hands on my grandfather's coin collection. i don't have a clue about coins, but am quite excited. could you tell me, as a matter of interest, roughly how much a massa coin is worth today?

ANSWER: It depends on the type of massa coin and condition.
Some are rare and worth something significant. However
the common massa coins of which many thousands are found
are worth about lkRs100/- each wholesale in Lanka, but a bit
more abroad since export of coins older than 100 years is
illegal

to identify the coins use the page
http://coins.lakdiva.org/medievallanka/identify.html

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks so much for the quick response. how about the little coin with the elephant on it, dated 1805, inscribed ceylon? worth something? or the VOC coins from the 1700s?

Answer
You will need to send me 300dpi or higher scans of both sides
of the elephant coin. Is it silver or copper, what else is on it
You can try to identify it from the images posted at my website
http://coins.lakdiva.org

The thin VOC duit coins are also about Rs100/- each wholesale,
more in retail market in Lanka. Few years ago they were just
Rs65 each when I purchased a lot of over 2000. The thick VOC
coins are of more, but you will need to send me scans.