Māsaka [fr. māsa2+ka=māsa3] lit. a small bean, used as a standard of weight & value; hence a small coin of very low value. Of copper, wood & lac (DhsA 318; cp. KhA 37; jatu˚, dāru˚, loha˚); the suvaṇṇa˚ (golden m.) at J iv.107 reminds of the "gold" in fairy tales. That its worth is next to nothing is seen from the descending progression of coins at DhA iii.108=VvA 77, which, beginning with kahāpaṇa, aḍḍha -- pāda, places māsaka & kāhaṇikā next tomudhā "gratis." It only "counts" when it amounts to 5 māsakas. -- Vin iii.47, 67; iv.226 (pañca˚); J i.112 (aḍḍha -- māsakaŋ na agghati is worth nothing);iv.107; v.135 (first a rain of flowers, then of māsakas, then kahāpaṇas); DhA ii.29 (pañca -- m. -- mattaŋ a sum of 5 m.); PvA 282 (m+aḍḍha˚ half -- pennies & farthings, as children's pocket -- money).