We are only beginning to make sense of the early indigenous mainland Southeast Asian coin series. The prototype issue, a silver Conch/Temple piece of ±9.5g, probably originated ca. 450 AD in Pegu (southern Burma), its symbolism clearly derived from south Indian coinage. It served as model for several later series with ±9.5g units, including that of Dvaravati, the first series minted entirely in what is now Thailand. Wicks notes findspots in central Thailand for all types below. Coinage in the region died with the conquest of Dvaravati and the Pyu of Burma ca 800 AD, to be revived only some 500 years later by the more exotic "coinage" of the Thai of Lannathai and Sukothai. As there have been many discoveries since Mitchiner's Non-Islamic (M) was published, I have listed this series by Wicks' article "Ancient Coinage from Thailand and Burma" This was to be published in expanded book form under the same title, but as of 10/01 I have not been able to learn whether this will happen. I have modified Wicks' basic listing to include varieties and fractionals. Also useful for fractionals is Mitchiner's "Four More Hoards of Early South-east Asian Symbolic Coins" (abbreviated "M4M") Num. Chron v.148, 1988.

Mons of Pegu (Southern Burma) ca.450? AD W1 Silver Unit (±9-10g, 23-25m, .997 fine) Conch & circle of beads, R: "Srivatsa" Temple, ankus? inside, pellets (hollow or solid) below, moon (crescent), circle-sun, or rayed-sun variously rt. or l. above. Prototype for entire "symbolic" series. None in stock.

Pyus of Sriksetra (Central Burma) VF or better, but coated with black tar (from saltwater immersion) 95.00

--> Wicks26    1/100? Unit Throne, R: Temple, simple designs 10m, .12g (2 varieties $30) M2629 crude VF 17.50

• Wicks27    Similar, Throne (smaller), uniface Vg $4 SOLD; crude VF 17.50 SOLD

Unattributed Fractionals

• Wicks27M    1/250? Unit Cross or flower petal: perhaps a degenerate Temple? Avg. .03g, 7m. Tiny coin! Unpublished. VF 15.00

• Wicks27P    - 1/25? Unit Temple (as W26), R: Ankus. Average .31g for 10 pcs, though rough flans indicate metal loss, so could be 1/25 of a Pegu Unit "MB2586" M4M pl.40 #7. Mitchiner SEAsia #531 Ankus side always weak, crude flans Vg-F 50.00.