SPINK-TAISEI SINGAPORE COIN AUCTION CATALOGUE 6 - RING CURRENCY TYPE B

There are 5 items of what I categorize as Type B in Spink-Taisei Coin Auction Catalogues 6. Type B is ring currency type with figure either cockerel or bird in between 2 rings.

Lot 31 under Malay Sultanate category on Plate 2 are 4 items of Ring Currency.

Item 1

Item 2

Item 3

Item 4

Lot 31, Plate 2 - Perak: Animal Currency, tin "cockerel" money (Duit Ayam) (6) each with ring on back and legs. Another, with ring on back. 18 century (SS 54 - 61). Very fine to extremely fine, very rare. (As per catalogue description, size and weight information not provided).

Estimate = US$1,250 - 1,500

Realized = ?

Note -  Description mentioned 6 items but only 4 items (as presented above) were labeled as Lot 31. Two items that are labeled as Lot 41 (that will be presented in a separate posting) are likely to be part of Lot 31. 

Although described as cockerel money, I regard the above items as birds and not cockerel. In my research and study an item is only regarded as cockerel when the figure can be determined as a cockerel without doubt. Other items are broadly categorized as bird. The cockerel and bird items are all categorized as Ring Currency and not as cockerel money (Duit Ayam) a term that I find restrictive and misleading simply because the Ring Currency is not limited to items with cockerel figures only.

In my research and study I recognize that certain ring on animal currencies as being created for stringing purposes. As for items of Ring Currency Type B above, the ring on the back of the item is taken as part of the ring feature and not designed for stringing purposes although it can also function as that.

The above Type B items are what I regard as Type B with "embedded" rings. For certain Type B items the rings are clearly seen as being "attached" to the figure. The rings for the embedded type are part of the figure as a whole and sometimes appear as holes on the item/figure rather than as ring.

The few items similar to the above items in my collection are all obtained through dealers outside Malaysia.

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