Primitive or Odd & Curious money of Thailand

Thailand (Siam) issued some of the most interesting forms of money over the past several centuries. They have Lat (Bar) money in both copper and silver. The copper ones are generally in the shape of small canoes, while the silver ones have small bumps on them and are called Tiger Tongues. There is bullet money in several denominations. Most common demonimations being 1/8th and 1 baht. These are round and have two marks punched on them. There are also larger coins shaped like a saddle where a bar is cut and folded over. These bear the mark of their city (Chieng) Depending on the mark they are called Chieng Sai or Chieng Mai. They are from around 1200 AD. There are rough looking silver disks called Tok money which often have a red and yellow discolorization. These were given as dowry in the marriage ceremony and were meant for fertility. Originally the colorization was thought to be from chicken blood and egg yolk, but tests confirmed that is was only a myth. One of the more interesting Tok money pieces is called a Hog's mouth token because of its resemblence to the porcine creature's mouth.

Thanks for the lesson! I have been wanting to get some of this "bar" or "canoe" money from East Asia in general. As I understand, it was not just Thailand that had this style.

True.. Laos and Burma also had that style. I only collect the ones from Thailand though. Prices on these have climbed quite a bit over the years and they are really difficult to find now. Japan also made some great looking ones.

I learned a lot from your post Hoard. Very very interesting.

They also have necklace money and bracelet money.. usually in silver. I really need to take some pics of the pieces in my collection.

One of the most common items you will see are porcelain gambling tokens. These come in various shapes with round being the most common. They were used for gambling, but circulated as small change in the area of the establishment. They generally had the demonimation on one side and the name of the gambling house on the other. When they were going to retire a series a crier would be sent into the streets to anounce that they must be turned in by a certain date.

Please, post some pictures! I have always been interested in Asian "coinage" and this may be the spur I need.

Would love to see some pics too

I'll get some pics eventually.

They also had some pieces in various shapes called Sycee.. which means "fine silver"