Ian,the 'Peacock Rupee',as the Kyat (pronouced as 'chat' in Burmese) is sometimes known as,is the coin from the Kingdom of Burma that always turns up. Aidan.
Ian, these are some great coins. This one I've never seen. The script used in Burma, as well as Sri Lanka and some other parts of south India, is stated to have evolved around avoidance of straight lines, as that tended to tear the leaves it was written on. The actual date on the coin is 1214, which refers to the Chulasakarat era (beginning in 638AD). Nowadays coins in Myanmar have the Gregorian year.
I've always wanted to master `languages' but apart from english i've only managed to learn a little french (usable that is) and not a lot else. Studying coins has taught me a little about a lot of different scripts. However in my case, the more I learn the more I realise just how little I actually know.
Brad,the Gregorian years on the modern Burmese coins are quite naturally inscribed in the Burmese numerals.You can find them in the numeral chart near the front of the Krause catalogue. Aidan.
I would imagine that if you could find one a proof version of that coin would be stunning, the Peacock looks wonderful
