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Thai bullet coins

Started by lusomosa, August 04, 2007, 03:56:01 PM

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lusomosa

Greetings to all,

Does anyone knows an internet site with information and images about bullet coins.
I think they are almost exclusive to Thailand.
I fund a lot of info on the net but almost no pictures.

Thanks in advance

Figleaf

My favourite web site http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/siamese_money.html is no longer online. Maybe it's temporary, because the pics are still visible with Google. Don't forget to Google pics with "bullet money" as well as "bullet coin". There are detailed pictures.

The only other Thai link I have is http://www.thailandmuseum.com/en_map.htm There's a no good picture here

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

lusomosa


BC Numismatics

Lusomosa,you have to be extremely careful when buying Siamese bullet coins,as there are some very deceptive forgeries of them,which are usually a Burmese or Chinese production.

Aidan.

Rangnath

Why the shape of the coins?  Were they mimicking shell beads. Since the circle that they created was complete, did the coins double as beads?
richie

lusomosa

Thanks for the advice Aidan,
I'm trying to identify some coins my father has for about 25 years in a plastic bag. I just weighted the heavy ones and they are about 60 , 120 and 180g.
Eventhough I now nothing about this type of coins and this ones seem a bit corroded I was surprised to see weights which are multiples of 60g.
There are a few others ( clearly of silver ) but they are much smaller.
I'll try to take a picture of some of them and post it.

LP

Figleaf

I think the bullet coins should be considered as a halfway house between coins and silver bars: they are easily re-melted, yet generally accepted, probably by weight. If they are your father's, I presume they were bought a long time ago, which diminishes the chance of them being forgeries and tourist souveinirs very considerably. The accurate weights are a good sign. If you have any remaining doubts, a friendly jeweller can tell whether it's genuine silver in the right proportion. If so, chances that they are genuine are very high indeed.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

a3v1

These coins do have a very interesting history.
The Thai people originated from southern China and gradually moved into southeast Asia. In the 13th century they had conquered the whole of Thailand. They were unfamiliar with coins and used silver rings as money. For several centuries this ring-shaped money existed, but later these were bent and hammered into a tight ball from which is derived the description "bullet coins" by Western collectors. The Thai name for these coins is pot duang, meaning "curled-up worm".
Regards,
a3v1 
Over half a century of experience as a coin collector.
-------------
Money is like body fat: If there's too much of it, it always is in the wrong places.

Rangnath

Thanks a3v1.  Beautiful image.  Is it your coin? 
Well, now I understand, I think, why we have the name "bullet" coin.  It looks like the ball of a musket.  Thanks for information.
richie

lusomosa

Here are the pic's of the bullet coins I'm trying to identify.
This one weights 180 g and has a gray/blue tone . I don't know if it is debased silver or bullion ?

LP

lusomosa

This is the second type I want to Identify.
It weights about 3.6 g and is clearly made of silver.

Thanks,

LP

Rangnath

The one certainly is worm like.  At 180 grams, you must have had to develop your own presentation format. I think that their eye appeal is considerable. They seem very carefully made.  Are the stamps included at minting or are they introduced at a later date? 
Richie

lusomosa

Hi Richie,

About the stamps, they are present at both sides of the coin...
I don't know when they were placed.
I do agree that they are carefully made, and I have two similar ones of 120 g and 60 g.
For the rest I know nothing about this type of coinage or about the metal content.
I'll measure them and give the dimentions at a later post.

LP

Rangnath

They are wonderful pieces!  The more you post of them, the better! Thanks,
richie

Figleaf

Sorry I can't help you here, lusomosa, but them is wonderful pics. :P

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.