Siamese Coins

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Plate A23. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, major variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti, 5th-6th century. All specimens are common.

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Plate A26. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Syriam, variations of coins denominated at 80 ratti, 4th-6th century.

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Plate A24. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti. The conch shell has three lines at the base, 5th-6th century.

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Plate A25. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti. The conch shell has two and four lines at the base, 5th-6th century.

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Plate A27. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Syriam, denomination set of 80 ratti and 20 ratti, 4th-6th century, and modern counterfeit (right).

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Plate A23. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, major variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti, 5th-6th century. All specimens are common.

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Plate A26. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Syriam, variations of coins denominated at 80 ratti, 4th-6th century.

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Plate A24. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti. The conch shell has three lines at the base, 5th-6th century.

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Plate A25. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Hamsavati, variations of coins denominated at 88 ratti. The conch shell has two and four lines at the base, 5th-6th century.

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Plate A27. Conch shell/srivatsa coinage of Syriam, denomination set of 80 ratti and 20 ratti, 4th-6th century, and modern counterfeit (right).

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Plate B21. Canoe money, denomination set of ingots weighing 27 ngoen, 17 ngoen, and 5 ngoen, 17th-20th centuries.

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Plate B20. Leech money, denomination set of ingots weighing 33 ngoen, 16 ngoen, and 7 ngoen, and a four-mark specimen weighing 15 ngoen, 17th-19th centuries.

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Plate B22. Fish money, unknown provenance, denomination set of ingots weighing 15 ngoen, 10 ngoen, and 5 ngoen, 17th-19th centuries.

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Chiang money represents the most elaborate type of Lan Na ingot currency. The pieces usually bear three marks on the outer sleeve surface: a round stamp, probably representing the chakra; a mark, which may represent the Thai numeral 4 or 5 (subject to discussion); and a legend, which is the name of the issuing city or principality in Lan Na. The inner sleeve surface often bears an ornamental pattern. Detailed images of several high quality specimens of chiang money are shown on plates B23-B25.

Chiang money is the only type of Lan Na ingot which has a well-controlled weight standard and consistent alloy. The unit-sized chiang money normally weighs from 58g (25 ngoen) to 64g (28 ngoen), and probably were targeted to two different denominations. The rarity of the full-unit chiang money entirely depends on the issuing authority. Unfortunately, we do not possess enough data to grade the rarity of the chiang money.

It may only be said that the specimens bearing Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, and Nan stamps are very common, while all the others are scarce to extremely rare. Fractions weighing around 32g, 16g, 8g and 4g are known to exist.

The metal composition of the chiang money has been extensively analyzed. For the ED-XRF analysis, Mitchiner and Pollard report the composition for 10 samples, and we carried out analysis for 19 samples. ICP-MS analysis was applied to two samples. According to the results obtained by Mitchiner and Pollard, the silver content in eight out of ten full-unit genuine pieces ranged from 90% to 94%, copper content varied from 5.0% to 7.1%, lead was presents at 0.2% to 3.3%, and gold, iron and tin traces were present in non-quantifiable amounts. The ninth piece demonstrated 65% silver, 35% copper, and traces of iron, while the tenth piece varied from 25% silver inside to 44% silver on the surface, with the remaining element being copper as well as traces of iron and tin. Our tests using the same method produced results similar to the majority of pieces tested

by Mitchiner and Pollard. Thus, the silver content ranged from 88% to 98%, copper content varied from 1.1% to 11%, and lead was up to 1.6%. The ICP-MS results demonstrated silver content of 85.0% to 85.2%, copper 12.6% to 12.8%, lead 2.0%-2.2%, and stable traces of bismuth. The ED-XRF data for the same samples show silver ranging from 92%-95%, 2%-5% for copper and 1.1% to 1.7% lead. In our experience, the ED-XRF tests carried on different surfaces of one sample do not produce significantly different results. Therefore, the difference between the surface and the bulk analysis can be best explained by the ‘surface self-purification’ effect. It should be stressed that modern counterfeit pieces (n=4, all analyzed by us) often show approximately the same alloy content as the genuine specimens.

The authors did not carry out any physicochemical tests for the fractional pieces of chiang money. Mitchiner and Pollard, however, report ED-XRF data for three specimens; the alloy variations were from 32% to 79% silver, with the remaining element being copper. Traces of iron and tin were reported for some specimens. Being unable to examine the ninth and tenth specimens analysed by Mitchiner and Pollard, we are not able to comment on the results reported for these pieces.

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Plate B23. Chiang money, principality of Song, projections of front, rear, left-sleeve, and right-sleeve views, 15th-16th centuries.

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Plates B23-B40: Chiang money

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Plate B24. Chiang money, principality of Chiang Mai, projections of front, rear, left-sleeve, and right-sleeve views, 15th-16th centuries.

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Plate B21. Canoe money, denomination set of ingots weighing 27 ngoen, 17 ngoen, and 5 ngoen, 17th-20th centuries.

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Plate B20. Leech money, denomination set of ingots weighing 33 ngoen, 16 ngoen, and 7 ngoen, and a four-mark specimen weighing 15 ngoen, 17th-19th centuries.

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Plate B22. Fish money, unknown provenance, denomination set of ingots weighing 15 ngoen, 10 ngoen, and 5 ngoen, 17th-19th centuries.

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Chiang money represents the most elaborate type of Lan Na ingot currency. The pieces usually bear three marks on the outer sleeve surface: a round stamp, probably representing the chakra; a mark, which may represent the Thai numeral 4 or 5 (subject to discussion); and a legend, which is the name of the issuing city or principality in Lan Na. The inner sleeve surface often bears an ornamental pattern. Detailed images of several high quality specimens of chiang money are shown on plates B23-B25.

Chiang money is the only type of Lan Na ingot which has a well-controlled weight standard and consistent alloy. The unit-sized chiang money normally weighs from 58g (25 ngoen) to 64g (28 ngoen), and probably were targeted to two different denominations. The rarity of the full-unit chiang money entirely depends on the issuing authority. Unfortunately, we do not possess enough data to grade the rarity of the chiang money.

It may only be said that the specimens bearing Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, and Nan stamps are very common, while all the others are scarce to extremely rare. Fractions weighing around 32g, 16g, 8g and 4g are known to exist.

The metal composition of the chiang money has been extensively analyzed. For the ED-XRF analysis, Mitchiner and Pollard report the composition for 10 samples, and we carried out analysis for 19 samples. ICP-MS analysis was applied to two samples. According to the results obtained by Mitchiner and Pollard, the silver content in eight out of ten full-unit genuine pieces ranged from 90% to 94%, copper content varied from 5.0% to 7.1%, lead was presents at 0.2% to 3.3%, and gold, iron and tin traces were present in non-quantifiable amounts. The ninth piece demonstrated 65% silver, 35% copper, and traces of iron, while the tenth piece varied from 25% silver inside to 44% silver on the surface, with the remaining element being copper as well as traces of iron and tin. Our tests using the same method produced results similar to the majority of pieces tested

by Mitchiner and Pollard. Thus, the silver content ranged from 88% to 98%, copper content varied from 1.1% to 11%, and lead was up to 1.6%. The ICP-MS results demonstrated silver content of 85.0% to 85.2%, copper 12.6% to 12.8%, lead 2.0%-2.2%, and stable traces of bismuth. The ED-XRF data for the same samples show silver ranging from 92%-95%, 2%-5% for copper and 1.1% to 1.7% lead. In our experience, the ED-XRF tests carried on different surfaces of one sample do not produce significantly different results. Therefore, the difference between the surface and the bulk analysis can be best explained by the ‘surface self-purification’ effect. It should be stressed that modern counterfeit pieces (n=4, all analyzed by us) often show approximately the same alloy content as the genuine specimens.

The authors did not carry out any physicochemical tests for the fractional pieces of chiang money. Mitchiner and Pollard, however, report ED-XRF data for three specimens; the alloy variations were from 32% to 79% silver, with the remaining element being copper. Traces of iron and tin were reported for some specimens. Being unable to examine the ninth and tenth specimens analysed by Mitchiner and Pollard, we are not able to comment on the results reported for these pieces.

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Plate B23. Chiang money, principality of Song, projections of front, rear, left-sleeve, and right-sleeve views, 15th-16th centuries.

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Plates B23-B40: Chiang money

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Plate B24. Chiang money, principality of Chiang Mai, projections of front, rear, left-sleeve, and right-sleeve views, 15th-16th centuries.

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Plate C08. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of baht coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

Plates C05-C12: The Pot Duang Coinage of the earliest period The earliest pot duang were probably produced between the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. These pieces resemble bracelet money (plate C04) in some respects, but are also quite similar to the currency which would be produced in Siam for the next five centuries. These pot duang usually had large cuts on the legs, the marks were unclear, and the weights varied significantly. Out of ten genuine pieces in this group, analyzed by the authors using ED-XRF, nine show over 99% silver, with the remaining element being copper on the surface layer. It should be stressed that two modern counterfeits analysed by the authors show a surface composition identical to the genuine pieces.

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Plate C05. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of tamlung, two-baht, and baht pieces, 14th15th centuries. Extremely rare.

Plate C09. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of two-salung and salung coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

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Plate C10. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of two-salung coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. These specimens are extremely rare.

Coutesy of Nirundorn Visitsin.

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Plate C06. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of tamlung and two-baht pieces, about 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare. Tamlung coin coutesy of Nirundorn Visitsin.

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Plate C07. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of baht coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

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Plate C08. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of baht coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

Plates C05-C12: The Pot Duang Coinage of the earliest period The earliest pot duang were probably produced between the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th centuries. These pieces resemble bracelet money (plate C04) in some respects, but are also quite similar to the currency which would be produced in Siam for the next five centuries. These pot duang usually had large cuts on the legs, the marks were unclear, and the weights varied significantly. Out of ten genuine pieces in this group, analyzed by the authors using ED-XRF, nine show over 99% silver, with the remaining element being copper on the surface layer. It should be stressed that two modern counterfeits analysed by the authors show a surface composition identical to the genuine pieces.

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Plate C05. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of tamlung, two-baht, and baht pieces, 14th15th centuries. Extremely rare.

Plate C09. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of two-salung and salung coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

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Plate C10. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of two-salung coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. These specimens are extremely rare.

Coutesy of Nirundorn Visitsin.

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Plate C06. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, denomination set of tamlung and two-baht pieces, about 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare. Tamlung coin coutesy of Nirundorn Visitsin.

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Plate C07. Pre-Rattanakosin period pot duang issues, the earliest strikes, variations of baht coins struck to 14.1g to 15.0g per baht standard, 14th-15th centuries. Extremely rare.

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Plate D52. Jawi script legend coins of southern Thailand and northeast Malaysia, sub-set of ten-pitis coin of Terengganu (left), and 1 pitis coins of Sai (middle) and Yaring (right), end of the 19th-beginning of the 20th centuries.

The coins were produced by casting on a type of money tree. A fragment of such a money tree is shown in plate D53.

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Plate D53. Jawi script legend coins from Kelantan, a fragment of a money tree, beginning of the 20th century.

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Plate D54. Gold coins from Pattani-Kelantan state, variants of coins denominated at 1 kupang, 16th-19th centuries.

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Plate D52. Jawi script legend coins of southern Thailand and northeast Malaysia, sub-set of ten-pitis coin of Terengganu (left), and 1 pitis coins of Sai (middle) and Yaring (right), end of the 19th-beginning of the 20th centuries.

The coins were produced by casting on a type of money tree. A fragment of such a money tree is shown in plate D53.

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Plate D53. Jawi script legend coins from Kelantan, a fragment of a money tree, beginning of the 20th century.

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Plate D54. Gold coins from Pattani-Kelantan state, variants of coins denominated at 1 kupang, 16th-19th centuries.

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