© John3 16
© John3 16
1 Cash - Xiangfu (Tongbao; Tin imitation) ND
| Tin | 1.26 g | 21.3 mm |
| Issuer | Malay peninsula (Malaysia) |
|---|---|
| Type | Token |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Composition | Tin |
| Weight | 1.26 g |
| Diameter | 21.3 mm |
| Thickness | 0.75 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#107818 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
Plain
Edge
Plain
Comment
This is a tin imitation of Chinese cash coin that is consistent with descriptions given by early Dutch travelers to Java and Sumatra around the 1600s. According to Yih (2012:34), a notable characteristic in the Xiangfu Tongbao imitation is the rounded shape of the radical bei 貝 in the character bao 寶.Size and weight are not consistent between coins, for example:
See:
Mitchiner, Michael (2012). "Coin Circulation in Palembang (Sumatra), circa AD 1710 to 1825. Including Coins made in Banten, Siak, Kampar, Indragiri, Jambi, Palembang and Batavia" https://www.orientalnumismaticsociety.org/archive/ONS_213.pdf, pp: 36-37
Robinson, Frank S. (2015). Palembang Coins http://www.fsrcoin.com/palembang.html
Yih, Tjong Ding (2012) “Tin cash imitations from Palembang in the former Dutch East Indies: genuine local imitations or modern counterfeits?” https://www.orientalnumismaticsociety.org/archive/ONS_212.pdf, pp: 32-36
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token 1 Cash - Xiangfu (Tongbao; Tin imitation) ND from Malay peninsula (Malaysia) made of Tin weighing 1.26 g is that it is a rare and unique coin that was created as a form of currency during a time of economic hardship in the region. The use of tin as a material for the coin was likely chosen due to its durability and affordability, as well as its resemblance to silver, which was the traditional material used for coins at the time. Despite its humble origins, this coin has become a prized collector's item among numismatists and historians, offering a glimpse into the economic and cultural history of the Malay peninsula during a time of great change and challenge.
