From early 1400' until well past the middle of the 19th. century,
tin ingots in a variety of shapes and sizes were used as money on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula (Shaw & Kassim, 1971).
THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO

Click map for bigger version at my Obsolete Tin Currency blog.

The use of tin currencies issued by the Malay Peninsula was not restricted to areas in the peninsula but extends to a large area in the Malay Archipelago. Although the term Malay Archipelago is widely used, there is no official definition for this area. The widely accepted definition would include Malaysia (the Malay Peninsula, including southern Thailand that connects the Peninsula to the Asian mainland), Brunei, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and islands in the waters surrounded by these large islands. (Source - Bank Negara Malaysia, 1995. Pameran Matawang Perdagangan Kepulauan Melayu (18 Mei - 14 Jun 1995) Unit Muzium Matawang, Bank Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, p. 9.)

LIST OF KNOWN FORMS OF ANIMAL CURRENCY / ANIMAL MONEY


Tortoise - Kura Kura (Listed) [RRR]
Crocodile - Buaya (Listed) [RRR]
Lizard - Cicak (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Snake - Ular (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Frog - Katak (Known to exist) [RRRR]

Elephant (Listed) [RRR]
Goat - Kambing (Listed) [RRRR]
Rabbit - Arnab (?)

Cockerel - Ayam (Listed) [RRR]
Bird - Burung (Various types) (Listed) [RRR]

Grasshopper - Belalang (Listed) [RRRR]
Other Insects - Serangga (Several types) (Known to exist) [RRRR]

Fish - Ikan (Various types) (Listed) [RRR]
Sea Horse - Kuda Laut (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Crab - Ketam (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Lobster - Udang Kara (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Sea Shell - Siput (Known to exist) [RRR]

Dragon - Naga (Known to exist) [RRRR]
Sea-Serpent - Naga laut (Known to exist) [RRRR]

Note:
Listed = in the Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 1400 - 1967
Known to exist = in author's collection and/or known to exist by author
? = Known item in bad condition to determine with certainty
Rarity is based on author's grading.
DEGREE OF SCARCITY

S - Scarce
R - Rare
RR - Very Rare
RRR - Extremely Rare
RRRR - Highest state of rarity
UNIQUE - Only one piece known to exist

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

ANIMAL CURRENCY LISTED IN SARAN SINGH'S ENCYCLOPAEDIA - PART I OF III

PART I - TORTOISE (KURA-KURA), ELEPHANT (GAJAH) AND CROCODILE (BUAYA)

The Encuclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 1400 - 1967 by Saran Singh (1996) presented a total of 27 Animal Currency items of 7 species of animals. These items are attributed to the state of Perak (page 200 - 205) but was said to have been in use in Perak as well as Selangor.

I have reasons to believe that the single state attribution by Saran Singh was due to lack of information and was done for convenience of presentation. I believe that the items here originated from more than one state.

The posting on the listed item will be broken down as follows:-
Part I - Tortoise (Kura-kura), Elephant (Gajah) and Crocodile (Buaya).
Part II -Cockerel (Ayam).
Part III - Grashoppers (Belalang), Fish (Ikan) and Goat (Kambing)

My comments on the items are based on my personal views and knowledge.

a. Tortoise (Kura kura)

Item SS41
(Also presented as Item 1 in Plate 6 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This tortoise is without a head and any legs. This I believe is intentional rather than lack of technique to produce life-like tortoise. It is possibly not even a tortoise.

Weight: 856.3 grammes
Length: 140 mm
Height: 35 mm
Width: 70 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS42
(Also presented as Item 3 in Plate 5 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This tortoise looks a bit odd perhaps due to the angle of shot and quality of picture.

Weight: 376.3 grammes
Length: 92 mm
Height: 40 mm
Width: 70 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS43
(Also presented as Item 3 in Plate 6 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This tortoise is without legs but detailing on the head and shell is there with eyes on the head and design on the shell. The legless design appears to be intentional.

Weight: 303.6 grammes
Length: 118 mm
Height: 25 mm
Width: 48 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS44
(Also presented as Item 2 in Plate 6 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This item is quite similar to Items SS43 but with tiny legs.

Weight: 521.5 grammes
Length: 136 mm
Height: 26 mm
Width: 60 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS45
(Also presented as Item 3 in Plate 2 and Item 4 in Plate 6 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
Item SS45 is quite elaborate in design and posture.

Weight: 415.5 grammes
Length: 105 mm
Height: 70 mm
Width: 73 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS46
Quite a number of items such as this were known to have been found in Malacca but mostly broken and not complete as per picture above.

Weight: 9 grammes
Length: 64 mm
Height: 8 mm
Width: 20 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Tony Lye Fong Nge, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Not known.


b. Elephant (Gajah)


Item SS47
(Also presented as Item 2 in Plate 5 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
Frankly, I can't see clearly the elephant in this one. Perhaps its because of the quality and angle of picture.

Weight: 575.5 grammes
Length: 155 mm
Height: 65 mm
Width: 75 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS48
(Also presented as Item 4 in Plate 2 and Item 4 in Plate 5 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This item is a beautiful one. It is the only one with a flat based stand out of the 4 items listed.

Weight: 101.4 grammes
Length: 60 mm
Height: 43 mm
Width: 22 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS49
(Also presented as Item 9 in Plate 2 and Item 1 in Plate 5 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This item looks like a bug the first time I saw it. The technique of producing it is also interesting (we will explore this in future postings).

Weight: 1,139.5 grammes
Length: 140 mm
Height: 75 mm
Width: 95 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Item SS50
This item looks like a variation or improved version of Item SS49.

Weight: 1,138.5 grammes
Length: 145 mm
Height: 90 mm
Width: 80 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

c. Crocodile (Buaya)

Item SS51

Weight: 836.1 grammes
Length: 268 mm
Height: 43 mm
Width: 71 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Item SS52

Weight: 1,061.5 grammes
Length: 405 mm
Height: 55 mm
Width: 66 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Item SS53
(Also presented in Plate 4 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

Weight: 2,895.2 grammes
Length: 465 mm
Height: 65 mm
Width: 80 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Most likely in the collection of Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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