It has been current in a number of eastern countries and districts, among them Persia, the Maldives, Goa, and the Malabar coast, Ceylon, and Kandy.

It has gone out of circulation, although the name is preserved in certain copper coins at the Maldives.

The ancient coin was of various shapes, that of the Maldives being about as long as the finger and double, having Arabic characters stamped on it; that of Ceylon resembled a fishhook: those of Kandy are described as a piece of silver wire rolled up like a wax taper.

When a person wishes to make a purchase, he cuts off as much of this silver as is equal in value to the price of the article.

Its probably first mention by an European writer occurs in the _Lembrancas das Cousas de India_ (_Subsidios_ iii, 53), in 1525, where the following table is given: 2 fules = 1 dinar; 12 dinars = 1 tanga; 3 tangas 10 dinars = 1 new larin; 3 tangas 9 dinars = 1 old larin.