File:Cambodian Lotus Tokens header - Scott Semans.png

Original file(2,560 × 440 pixels, file size: 354 KB, MIME type: image/png)

Captions

Captions

A chapter marker displaying examples of Cambodian exonumia in the possession of Scott Semans.

Summary

edit
Description
English: MEDALS, DECORATIONS, AMULETS

      H. Rolland (1932) describes a number of medals issued in France from about 1686 with Cambodian themes, and four brass medalets honoring Nordom I's accession in 1860, two of which are listed by Lecompte. Also likely struck in Europe is a series of at least fourteen designs commemorating various events 1860 to the end of the monarchy in 1970, each approximately the size and weight of the 4 Franc coin, some with 2 and 1 Franc counterparts, as well as gold strikes. These are usually found circulated, and are arguably as much a part of Cambodia's coinage as the "1860" silver series. Lecompte lists them to 1928, and Gadoury through 1965. Civilian and Military decorations are listed by John Sylvestre, The Orders and Medals of Cambodia and Laos. An extensive but uncatalogued series of crude cast(?) silver charms or amulets has a common theme of a man (Buddha?) standing under a tree , holding a staff and jug, or pot.

     L112+      Horseback Medallet     26mm brass   L113) Brass AU-UC ;   L113L) Brass, looped AU-UC ;   L112) Silver plated 
     L120      Silver Pagoda     Consecration, 1902, (4 Franc), G18, KM-Pn15! 
     L124      Funeral     of Nordom I, 1905, (4 Franc), G19 
     L133      Coronation     of Sisowath I, 1906 (4 Franc), G23   VF with minor problems (a,b,c) ;    
     L146      Coronation     of Sisowath II, 1928, (4 Franc), G29 small hallmark stamped in edge 
     L175      Independence     11th Anniversary, 1964, 65.43gm, 59.5mm, G46 
     S17/3      Royal Decoration     Anussara Medal of Royal Remembrance (1951) N. Sihanouk left, Cambodian legend, 35m, Bz 
     S19/3      Royal Decoration     Official Labor Medal, issued Sept. 9, 1948 Statue of Visnoukan, bronze open-work, 40mm, no bar/ribbon, uniface 
     S1      Peoples Republic     Vietnamese-style red & gold aluminum with pinback bar Ò7.1.1979Ó above 35m with soldier holding rifle, inscrip. for liberation (defeat of Pol Pot regime by Viet forces) 
     M400+      Silver Amulets     These appeared in the Taisei-Baldwin-etc sales until 1995, generally bringing $100+, but I have not seen them offered lately. M400) gm, 41mm ;   M401) gm, 44mm ;   M402) gm, 40mm ;   M403) gm, 40mm ;    M404) gm, 40mm ;   M405) gm, 43mm ;   M406) gm, 41.5mm ;   M407) gm, 44.5mm ;   M408) gm, 40mm ; 

CAMBODIAN LOTUS TOKENS

      This series has been attributed to Ayutthia and to Angkor (Mitchiner), but M&K's idea of post-Angkor Cambodia is more realistic. The metal, lack of consistent weight, and alternation of shape among the denominations suggests to me that they are tokens, probably for gambling, though this does not predlude a wider use as money. Specimens often show metal ageing, but most show little wear. Obverse and reverse disigns are the same. My assignment of the value ratios is pure guesswork. Photos show typical examples.

     T100a      Unit     Round, 42mm, 29.03gm (1). Obv & Rev: Four Lotus with branches either side separated by double pellets. Outer rim & circle; Drilled center hole with 2 circles, obv. only. Fine style. Metal shows considerable age. 
     T100b      Unit     Round, 38-39mm, 17.30-32.93gm, avg. 26.16 (11). Cast center hole, inner rings both sides. Good style. Metal shows significant age. MN2654    VF-EF but crusty ; 
     T100c      Unit     Round, 37-40mm, 19.06-22.98gm, avg 20.75 (5). Generally cruder style. Metal shows significant age. Possibly contemporary copies of T100b 
     T100d      Unit     Round, 37mm, 22.34-30.40gm, avg. 26.56 (7). Crude style. Metal shows some age, but clearly not older than 19th C. 
     T100e      Unit     Round, 36mm, 17.36gm. Poor style and casting. A contemporary fake. 
     T100f      Unit     Round, 33mm, 16.48-20.09gm, avg. 18.62 (3). Design has devolved to a series of five beaded crescents surrounding pellets. 
     T100g      Unit     Round, 57mm, 69.47-86.76gm, avg. 76.66 (5). Degenerated design. Metal shows little age. Likely a modern "bigger is better" fake for collectors or tourists. MN2653 
     T102b      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, 29-32mm, 11.72-18.32gm, avg. 14.54 (14). Well defined scalloped edge with inner borders forming five cartouches; Central hole with double border. Lotus bud with enclosing forked branches either side. Wide variation in size and form of buds and branches. Generally good style. Metal shows significant age. 
     T102c      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, 29-30mm, 10.96-18.14gm, avg. 13.89 (11). Poorly defined scalloped edge. Otherwise as T102b. Wide variation in size and form of buds and branches. Generally good style. Metal shows significant age. MN2655 - 2657 
     T102d      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, Softer pieces with higher lead content. Generally good style. Metal shows significant age. 
     T102e      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, 30mm, 15.45-16.19gm (3) Drilled center holes. Metal does not show significant age. 
     T102f      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, 29mm, 13.79-16.17gm, avg. 15.119 (10). Well defined scalloped edge. Identical pieces, poorly cast, sometimes showing mould slippage or filled holes. Metal shows some age, but likely late 20th C. 
     T102g      1/2 Unit     Scalloped, 36mm, gm, avg. (9). Poorly defined scalloped edge. Similar pieces, poorly cast. Design devolved to lumps and lines. Probably moern forgeries with deliberately enhanced size. 
     T104a      1/8 Unit     Round, 17mm, 4.18gm Center hole, outer and inner rims. Four lotus heads with curled branches at side. Metal shows some age. 
     T104b      1/8 Unit     Round, 15-17mm, 3.81, 3.78, 3.56, 2.88gm, Different pieces still showing floral design. Metal shows some age. MN2662 
     T104c      1/8 Unit     Round, 16-17mm, 2.11 - 4.20gm, avg. 3.29 (8). Pellets & Crescents design. Slipped moulds on some. MN2658-59 
     T104d      1/8 Unit     Round, 15mm, 1.95 - 2.99gm, avg. 2.73 (16). Pellets & Crescents design with little variation within group. Metal slightly softer (more lead) than other classes, shows some age. MN2660-61 
     T104e      1/8 Unit     Round, 14-14.5mm, 3.03 - 4.42gm, avg. 3.51 (8). Pellets & Crescents design with little variation within group. No center hold. Metal shows some age, but likely 20th C. 
     T104L      1/8 Unit     Lot of six, mixed varieties, all worn,cracked or heavily encrusted 
     T106      1/16 Unit     Scalloped, 11.5 - 14.5mm, .91-2.10gm, avg. 1.51 (5). Center hole, outer and inner rims. Four groups of two pellets in scallops. Scarcest denomination. 
Back to top of this page |   | HOME
Date
Source Cambodia Archive (CoinCoin.com).
Author Scott Semans.

Licensing

edit

This file comes from the Scott Semans World Coins (CoinCoin.com) website and is copyrighted.

The copyright holder of this file, has released this file under a Creative Commons license.
The license page of the source website reads (Internet Archive):
"CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE Unles{s} bylined, everything at this site is by Scott Semans and is covered under a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license. Please use what you wish, but attribute to the author. For articles bylined by another or noted ©, please request permission before using and I will forward your request if possible."

w:en:Creative Commons
attribution
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Attribution: Scott Semans World Coins (CoinCoin.com)
You are free:
  • to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
  • to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
  • attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current12:36, 28 August 2019Thumbnail for version as of 12:36, 28 August 20192,560 × 440 (354 KB)Donald Trung (talk | contribs)User created page with UploadWizard

The following page uses this file:

Metadata