Xerafim
Xerafim (also Xerafin ) is a Portuguese colonial coin that was in circulation in the Indian colonies ( Goa , Diu ) of Portugal, but also in neighboring regions up to Malacca from 1570 to the 19th century . Its value was 300 to 360 rice , its weight 19 g ( fine weight 17.5 g silver ), but fell to about 5.5 g over time. The embossing on the front showed the royal coat of arms, the back the cross of Jerusalem with the four digits of the year in the angles. The coin was later replaced by the Portuguese-Indian rupee , the value of which was half a xerafim until 1871, then about a third. In 1958 the rupee was replaced by the escudo .
The name Xerafim is derived from its Arabic name sharīfi ( sharīf : noble).