tanga

1. (historical) Any of various former Asian coins, including: a coin of Portuguese India worth one tenth of a rupee; a gold coin of India issued by various Muslim rulers; a silver coin of India, also issued by Muslim rulers; and a former silver coin of Tibet.Examples: "The larines are woorth by just value basaruchies 93 and 3 fourth parts, and 4 larines make a seraphine of siluer, which is 5 tangas of good money, and these also haue serafagion of 6, 7, 8, 10, vntil 16, by the 100, for when the ships depart for the North, to say, for Chaul, Diu, Cambaia, or Bassaim, all cary of the same, because it is money more currant then any other."; "The first and largest item is, the purchase of a wife, 25 rupees. Culinary and other utensils.--Bedding, 6 rupees; antimony for the lady's eyes, 3 tangas : an iron boiler, 2 rupees; a wooden bowl and spoons, 3 tangas; ...."; "The prices range from 120 tangas = Rupees 25 to 400 tangas = Rupees 80."historical