Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 92

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[APRIL, 1913
880, 881. Two blocks, cant solid, similar to last, bat with a receding step twc-thirds up from the base, weight 112 oz., and 98 oz. respectively, the heavier measuring 4.5 x 4.5 at the base ang 2".7 in height. They were formerly used in Selangor for the payment of duty on tin, but also passed as currency for general merchandise (their value was 25 cents: tin being then worth only 15 dollars the pilul).
882. One of similar form, but taller, with curved sides and no step. Its squared top is stamped in relief with an X-like mark, on the base of one face with two bold ridges, and on the opposite side with four smaller ridges. Weight 72 oz. Size 4"x4", by 2".7 in height.
888-885. Three: the base of plain truncated pyramid) being surrounded with a wide flat rim. The flat top is stamped with a quatrefoil, the tampo' manggis 160 Weights respectively 30 oz., 224 oz., and 12 oz. This variety called sa-lampang, i.e., a block or a cake, or when small sa-buaia, was used, prior to the establishment of English rule, for the payment of tin duty. Value of the larger coins 10 cents, of the smaller 24 cents, but tin was then less than half its present value.
886-888. Three similar in shape to the last, but cast hollow, and called by the same name (sa-tampang). Top plain, but the wide base rim bears an inscription. These token coins, evidently derived from the solid form, are still current in Pahang. Two of 4 oz., value 10 cents, and one of oz., value 1 cent."
Mr. Skeat and Professor Ridgeway, however, some years ago weighed and tabulated the Museum specimens and arrived at results which I now put forth as follows:
Cambridge Museum. Ingot Tin Currency from Selangor.
1. Form
mint mark
number
124
1/20 1/10
90
Museum
Approx.
Approx. Name
fraction nominal
Actual weight. of dollar.
weight oz. AY.
oz. ay. 885 buaya
111 884 tampang (kati)
22 (1} lbs.) 20 224 883 piak (tali)
1/8 28
80 bidor21
1/4
56 (84 lbs.) 881 8-buaya piece
215 880 jampal
1/2 112
112 dollar 21 (ringgit)
224 (14 lbs.) II. Form A mint marks: top
sides'm and / 23 87929 jongkong (kati)
1/10
224 882 karakura24
1/3
70 16. Tampok manggis, represents the "rosette" at the end of a mangosteen fruit opposite the calyx. It has divisions indicating the number of the sections within, generally 3, 4, or 5.
11 Mint nt Kerayong in Ulu Klang in Selangor.
1 Called tampok mangga or mangosteen rosette. It is not a quatrefoil the Cambridge Catalogue states. It ocours on the first three piecos. This form is called "pagoda" later on in these pages.
1 The meaning of this word is "orocodile."
* The tampang represents the kati of tin, which has a standard weight nowadays of 14 lb. The term means block or cake (of tin).
21 These have been inserted to complete the serlo: the bidor represents the enrrent skw, or quarter dollar.
29 The top represents the mangosteen rosette, the sides are called welumbu (? ), after the sloping shelves of a tip mine (lombong). This form is called the " sugarloaf" later on in tbego pages.
* This is a roughly cast specimen. # The ineaning of this word is "tortoise." Five other ingots have been weighed and are notioed infra, p. 94
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