Lot 3999

Description

Indonesia, assorted primitive money, including South East Asia, interrupted dumbbell ring lead coinage (5), issued A.D. 200-600, (5.68, 8.60 12.97, 20.10, 22.63 grams), other varieties (2), (cf.M.2610-5 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. (7)

The interrupted dumbbell ring lead coins - 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 similar to those illustrated by Mitchiner.