Thai bullet coins

[BC Numismatics]

Lusamosa,you can actually find a listing of the stamps in the 19th. Century Krause catalogue.It will help you to identify which King of Siam issued these bullet coins.Use a magnifying glass,as some stamps are similar to one another.

Aidan.

[lusomosa]

I think they will remain for a while a mystery.
I've seen them for more than 25 years but still have many questions open.
About the grey bullet coin ( with 180 g ) , its dimension is 44 x 40 x 24 mm.

The smallest grey one I have have different marks ( It seems difficult but I'll try to take a decent picture ).

As for the other Pic : I was wrong about its weight ( I do have some of about 3.6 g ) this not weights 14.52 g.

I have one other of silver I didn't mention so far as I was waiting for possible Identity is for the others.
I'll take a picture in the next few days And post it BUT I expect no one to be able to identify it for me.

LP

[Figleaf]

Retracting last message The coin on the picture in Reply #10 is Craig 11, salu'ng (4 salu'ng = 1 baht) ND produced under Rama I (1782-1809) The mark is the unalom, a decorated conch shell. Since your copy is relatively light, it was probably produced towards the end of the reign.

Oops: correction. If the weight is 14.52 grams it would be Craig 13, baht. Other data unchanged.

Peter

[BC Numismatics]

Don't forget that the Baht is also a measure of weight,just like the German Mark & the Scots Merk were.

Aidan.

[Figleaf]

Thanks to Aidan, who put me on the right track. Bullet coins are identified by weight and royal mark. They can have additional private chopmarks. The royal marks are as in the list below. Bullet coins only circulated 1782-1880. Weights are indications only, e.g. while the scan puts the baht at 15.4 grams, observed weights are 14.86-15.43 grams. The lightest bullet is the half pai (0.24-0.26 grams), the heaviest is the chang of 80 baht (1185-1232 grams).

Peter

[lusomosa]

Hi guys,

I've taken a picture of  "piece de resistance" among my bullet coins.
I thought that it would be difficult to identify it so I posted the other two first. Now I know it will not be identified !!!!
Nevertheless, Here are two pics from the same coin.  It weights about 90 g and it is 38 mm across. It is made of silver and I suspect it to be 6 times the value of the Baht.
I always have liked this coin 

I tried to take a picture with light from the side...

What are your thoughts ?

LP

[lusomosa]

OOPS,

only now I read the few last posts,

THANK A LOT for all the INFO guys.

I'll have a look on the stamps later tonight.

THANKS Aidan & Peter

[Medalstrike]

Coins into a spherical shape, or rather a forceful short elliptical silver rod, which is folded in half into a ball shape,
by the ends are zusammengebogen inwards, and is then provided with several imprints.
Literally "worm money", the Thai name is derived from "Duang" worm.
The shape is similar to the worm "Klom", so the Thai call it "Ngoen Klom" or "Ngoen Pod Duang.
In English, this means money, "bullet money", the translation of it has prevailed in the Germans.
14. Century until the end of the 19th Century. The ball, called Pod Duang money was an invention
in the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which has held its own until the introduction of modern baht.
The precursor forms of the sphere of money are already in Lanna and Srivijaya.
This money was followed by a normalization. The unit of weight in Siam was Baht - approximately 15.2 grams
There were also more value units to 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64 Baht.
In use even larger pieces of weight, were like the 2 Baht or 4 Baht pieces.
And in exceptional cases were 10, 20, 40 or even 80 Baht - Pieces in circulation.
Pod Duang always have at least two imprints. The balls have been with the characters of each dynasty
and the personal symbol of their king.
A value is not marked on the ball of money. In the Sukhothai period was usually taken yet another symbol,
such as an elephant, the wheel of doctrine or the Ratchawat.
Thus, at a later bullet coin, usually two symbols to be found.
Ball coins from the Rattanakosin era bear all the chakra symbol of the dynasty and the individual symbol
of the respective ruling king.

Kingdom of Siam
Rama IV. 1851-1868
Baht ND
Marks: Chakra and Mongkut
15.40g
KM#C 137.1

Dietmar

[Figleaf]

This thread now contains fine descriptions and pictures of bullet coins. Great! The web site I referenced in Repy #1 is up again. Every reason to research these beauties that won't fit in any coin album

I had somehow missed lusomosa's stunning elephant bullet coin. Thanks for digging this all up, Dietmar.

Peter

[Medalstrike]

Peter,   
I had entered as a searchterm Pod Duang and there were no matches,
and so I thought the topic would not exist.
An interesting topic with exclusive links, of course, here is my Baht in best hands.

Thanks, Dietmar

[fishfly]

Thank you Figleaf, for the link to the history of Siam money. Very interesting reading.

[Medalstrike]

Now I have a nine stamp bullet coin with a weight of 25g.
Is anyone aware of such a piece, and can tell me what do the triangular stamp?

Dietmar

[natko]

Among the XIX ct they're most oddly shaped coins, the only remnants of not classical con-looking money. Somebody mentioned presentation here, so I was wondering how to organize them? Obviously classical coin holders, capsules and sheets are out of question, even for the smallest pieces. It would be nice that all the marks have been viewed, so only coin boxes came into my mind Any other ideas?

[Figleaf]

I have plenty of coins and other stuff that doesn't fit in an album, natko, up to 30 mm high. I don't think there's a good solution, but that's no reason not to collect them.

In Amsterdam, medalstrike showed up with a Manilla. I lusted after it, but couldn't afford it.

Peter

[natko]

Of course! Those bullets are among the most fascinating pieces of "modern" coinage, I'd be glad to complete series as much as possible for sure.