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

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

d. Grasshopper (Belalang)

SS62
(Also presented as Item 3 in Plate 3 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

Tin ingots in the shapes of "insects" are extremely rare. The grasshopper here is with 4 legs instead of six.

Weight: 369 grammes
Length: 167 mm
Height: 50 mm
Width: 25 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

SS63

An item similar to SS62.

Weight: 390.4 grammes
Length: 165 mm
Height: 55 mm
Width: 25 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

SS64
(Also presented as Item 1 in Plate 2 and Item 4 in Plate 3 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

An item such as this is known to have been found outside Perak.

Weight: 483.2 grammes
Length: 160 mm
Height: 50 mm
Width: 52 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

SS65

This 4 legged grasshopper looks like a crocodile to me!

Weight: 564.8 grammes
Length: 190 mm
Height: 55 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

SS66
(Also presented as Item 8 in Plate 2 and Item 5 in Plate 3 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)
This is the only fish item listed by Saran. Many types in various shapes and sizes are known to exist.

Weight: 286 grammes
Length: 103 mm
Height: 40 mm
Width: 20 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

e. Goat (Kambing)

SS67

This is the only goat item listed by Saran, my favorite item in the listing.

Weight: 85.35 grammes
Length: 104 mm
Height: 72 mm
Width: 27 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

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

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

d. Cockerel (Ayam)

Item SS54
(Also presented as Item 6 in Plate 2 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

Similar items are known to have been found in Malacca.

Weight: 20.3 grammes
Length: 35 mm
Height: 30 mm
Width: 14 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 SS55
(Also presented as Item 5 in Plate 2 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

Weight: 36.0 grammes
Length: 50 mm
Height: 33 mm
Width: 25 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 SS56

Similar items are known to have been found in Malacca.

Weight: 6.89 grammes
Length: 50 mm
Height: 36 mm
Width: 3 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

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

Item SS57

This is quite an unusual item. Similar items are known to have been found in Malacca.

Weight: 35.38 grammes
Length: 47 mm
Height: 60 mm
Width: 5 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

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

Type Item SS58
(Also presented as Item 1 in Plate 3 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

Similar items are known to have been found.

Weight: 57.8 grammes
Length: 78 mm
Height: 58 mm
Width: 16 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 SS 59

Items such as these are possibly issued by Perak.

Weight: 51.6 grammes
Length: 73 mm
Height: 48 mm
Width: 3 mm - 10 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: William L.S. Barret, Canada
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Not known

Item SS60

Both item SS59 and SS60 are possibly found in the same state.

Weight: 62 grammes
Length: 82 mm
Height: 65 mm
Width: 4 mm - 11 mm
Composition: Tin
Scarcity: RRR (Extremely Rare)

Photo Credit: William L.S. Barret, Canada
Present Ownership and Location of Item: Not known.

Type Item SS61
(Also presented as Item 2 in Plate 3 of Tin 'Hat' and Animal Money by Shaw and Kassim, 1970)

This item is my personal favorite. It is different from the others, the design looks extraordinary and with element of mystique.

Weight: 58.5 grammes
Length: 91 mm
Height: 70 mm
Width: 23 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

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

INTRODUCTION

When researching the numismatic history of Malaysia, one cannot do away with referring to the Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 1400-1986 by Saran Singh (1986). It is the key reference for numismatists when it comes to coins and currencies of these countries.

The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 1400-1986 by Saran Singh.
The book was first published in 1986 and was re-printed in 1996. This book is now a collector's item due to limited number of print.

In the 2nd. Edition (1996) of the encyclopaedia page 260, the author referred the cockerel perched on rings as Animal Money. For the purpose of this blog (and my forthcoming book entitled The Forgotten Tin Ring Currency of The Malay Peninsula), all items with rings, with or without animal figure will be referred as Ring Currency. This shall include tin cockerel perched on rings presented in the encyclopaedia as item SS20a, SS20b and SS20c in page 260.

Block Image of item SS20a



Block Image of item SS20b



Block Image of item SS20c

Ring Currency with animal figure will also be referred as Animal Ring Money. The rationale for this is that although there are Ring Currency items with animal figure in their designs, there are also types that come without animal figure. If these items are to be categorized as Animal Currency then this will result in the omission of those without animal figure from the definition. This will lead to a weak and confusing definition to the term Ring Currency as to whether it should include or omit types with animal figure since Animal Ring Currency can be categorized under both Animal Currency as well as Ring Currency.

The term Animal Currency or Animal Money in this blog refers to Animal Money and Animal Currency in general without limiting it to items deemed to originate from the Malay states of Perak and Selangor as listed in the 2nd. Edition of The Encyclopaedia of the Coins of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei 1400-1986 in page 200 - 205. The listing may indirectly implies that Animal Currency and Animal Money was issued only by Perak and Selangor, that is, assuming that the listing is accurate. It is important that this limiting perception is removed because there are strong evidences to suggest that this currency was also issued and used by other states on the Malay Peninsula.

TIN INGOTS

In a book entitled Coins of North Malaya by William Shaw and Mohd. Kassim Haji Ali published by Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1971) it was mentioned that from early 1400' until well past 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 (p. 17). Although used for a period of approximately 450 years (according to this book) it is a mystery that not much is known about these ingots.

The Coins of North Malaya by William Shaw and Mohd. Kassim Hj. Ali,
published by Muzium Negara, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (1971).

The book in brief.

This 48-page book covers the coins from the Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan-Patani and Terengganu. The book gives good coverage on coinages from these states. The coverage on Animal Currency however was only in two paragraphs (page 17 and 18). Figure 12 on page 18 presented three sketches of the Animal Currency / Ring Currency; a two-ring item with perching cockerel on top, a two-ring and one-ring item both without cockerel. The book included twelve plates (i.e. pages with images of items) but no Ring Currency items were presented.

Here is where you can purchase the book.

A BEAUTIFUL COCKEREL TIN INGOT AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM

It is believed that the British Museum has a good collection of tin ingots. One particular item made available on the Museum's website is a beautiful tin cockerel in excellent condition. Described as Gambar Ayam this item that is 100mm in length and with a weight of 43.54g is attributed to the Malay state of Perak. One Gambar Ayam in the mid-nineteen century was said to have a value of 100 Pitis (tin coins) or 100 Duit Ayam (copper tokens bearing the image of fighting cock that were issued privately by certain Singapore merchants). [Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/547341/Walter-William-Skeat]

This item is listed as the Skeat Collection. Walter William Skeat, a British ethnographer of the Malay Peninsula whose detailed works laid the foundation for later ethnographic studies of the area. Following a classical education at Christ's College, Cambridge, Skeat in 1891 joined the civil service of the state of Selangor in the Malay Peninsula. He became interested in ideas of magic found among Malays and in the customary practices and daily life of the aborigines living in the interior. During 1899 he carried out an expedition to Trengganu (Terengganu) and Kelantan, Malay states then under Siamese suzerainty, to collect data on Malay beliefs, traditions, and ways of life in areas not yet subjected to European influence. Illness contracted on this trip forced him to resign from the colonial service, and he spent the remainder of his life in London, serving as one of the Studeley lecturers at the British Musuem from 1914 until his retirement in 1932. His research led to the publication of two major works: Malay Magic (1900) and Pagan Races of the Malay Peninsula (1906, with C.O. Blagden).

Skeat's notes and correspondence with G.M. Laidlaw from other notes made in Perak relating to the tin currency and money in use in the Malay Peninsula up until about 1880 were the basis of the book by Sir R.C. Temple entitled The Obsolete Tin Currency and Money of the Federated Malay States. This book will be reviewed in future postings.

WELCOME TO MY WEB LOG

This blog was first created in early 2009. In mid 2009 I retracted my postings and re-posted them in what I think was a better presentation. However, due certain commitments I was unable to develop the blog as intended. I apologize to those who visited the blog earlier for the inactivity of the blog.

Although bogged down by other matters, during this period of blog inactivity I somehow managed to complete the writing of my first book on numismatics entitled The Forgotten Tin Ring Currency of the Malay Peninsula. I am now working on my next book entitled The Mysterious Animal Currency of the Malay Peninsula. The idea of developing this blog concurrently with the writing of the first book sounded like a good idea at the outset but the research and thinking that was going on at that point in time created a conflict between sharing the current findings and final conclusions that would come later hence the decision to defer the postings on the blog.

Although I am currently working on my second book, unlike the first book that required in-depth research, a pictorial concept was adopted for the second book as such it will not give rise to the kind of conflict that arose during the writing of the first book.

With this I look forward to develop my web log with regular postings.

Thank you.

PHOTO PREVIEW 1

Bird with broken stand base.