Unusual SE Asian money - Pig mouth money

Unusual or primitive coinage series.

Burma. Shan States. 14th century AD.

Tok Chiang Mai silver alloyed (pig mouth) ingot money. North Menam Valley. Modern day north eastern Thailand bordering Burma.

Very scarce condition with no damages and intact except for a pinhole at the side for stringing purposes. Exceptionally large and heavy at 100g and 60mm wide. Red tones indicated potential organic material mixed in with the alloy or iron in the mix. A very primitive form of money used in SE Asia which traded alongside other forms of currencies such as the tok money and other forms of exchange.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

interesting looking looks like a shell.

 

It does right? They shaped it like that into a form or carapace.

 

hu, this is a new one to me...intresting!

 

Am I missing something? Why do they call it "pig mouth" money?

 

It's just a crude term due to their shape and resemblance to one. Here's a reference http://www.charm.ru/coins/misc/ingotmoneyforms.shtml

 

Thank you for always posting such interesting coins.

 

You're welcome.. just trying to spread awareness of lesser known coins from different partsnof the world..