Silver 1/5 rupee (velli fanam, "Bombay billy") in the name of Alamgir II (1754-1759), Malabar

Originally minted by the British in Bombay, the one-fifth rupee ("velli fanam" or "Bombay Billy") was later minted at Cannanore, even while naming Bombay as the mint. The velli fanam was intended to replace the small gold fanam, which was small and easily lost, and found wide acceptance. This coin (and the next) may have been a British issue, or an imitation issued by the Ali Rajas.