Lot 2014

Description

South East Asia, interupted dumbbell ring lead coinage, issued A.D. 200-600, (10-14 grams), together with a silver interrupted ring (9.1 grams), with inscribed crescents, (cf.M.2610-1 and 5321-2; Mitchiner 11-12 [p.30, History and Coinage of South East Asia until the fifteenth century'). Surface oxidation, otherwise very fine and unusual. (6)

Mitchiner (p.29 cited above) notes that finds of similar types as these as well as moulds were found at Oc-eo by Malleret's excavations (1959-1963) as well as contemporary Mon sites in Thailand and the Pyu site of Beikthano in the Irrawaddy valley. These are all dated to the period A.D. 200-600. Consequently the circulation of these pieces must have covered from South Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. He notes most examples are 20-30 grams but a few specimens have been observed around 50 grams. The analysis of these 'dumbbell interupted rings' show that they are almost 100% lead. The style of these dumbells are somewhat different to those illustrated by Mitchiner.