Indian Antiquary Vol 57

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 17

JANUARY, 1928)
OURRENCY AND COINAGE AMONG THE BURMESE
NOTES ON CURRENCY AND COINAGE AMONG THE BURMESE.
BY SIR RICHARD C. TEMPLE, Br.
(Continued from vol. LVI, page 213.) B. Stamped Lumps of Metal other than Gold and Silver. There is evidence that gold and silver were not the only metals used as currency and stamped to show quality. E.g., Crawfurd (Embassy to Siam and Cochin China, 1828, p. 517) says: "The zinc coins, as well as the gold and silver ingots, are struck at Cachao, the capital of Tunquin."
Again, Yule (Mission to Ava, 1858, p. 259) makes the following remark: "The old travellers of the sixteenth century talk often of Gansu (spelter) as a mixture of copper and lead, apparently stamped, which was the current money of Pegu in that age. Copper is not used as currency now in any part of Burma, but lead is commonly passed in all the bazars for small purchases, and baskets of it for exchange are always a prominent object in the markets. It is used in rude lumps, varying from half an ounce to a pound or so in weight. The price, when we were at Amarapoora, was 100 viss of lead for six-and-a-half tikals of the best silver.” To which he adds, quoting from Purchas, vol. II, pp. 1717-18: "Thus Cæsar Frederick : The current money that is in this Citie, and throughout all this kingdom, is called Gansa, or Ganza, which is made of copper and lead. It is not the money of the King, but every man may stamp it that will, because it hath his [its) just partition or value. But they make many of them false by putting overmuch lead into them, and those will not pass, neither will any take them. With this money Ganza you may buy gold or silver, rubies and muske, and other things. For there is no other money current amongst them. And gold, silver, and other merchandise are at one time dearer than another, as all other things bee" A little more than a century later Captain Alexander Hamilton speaks of "Ganse or lead, which passeth all over the Pegu dominions for money" (New Account of the East Indies, 1727, vol. II, p. 41).
Lastly, Yule quoting Hamilton as above, calls Ganga, lead, and in his HobsonJobson, 1886, p. 278 8.0. Ganza, he notes: "1554. 'In this Kingdom of Pegu there is no coined money, and what they use commonly consists of dishes, pans, and other utensils of service, made of a metal, like frosyleyra (?), broken in pieces, and this is called gamca (spelter]'... A. Nunes, p. 38."
This quotation from the old Portuguese traveller indicates that ganza was not always stamped when used for currency, and such was the case. Witness La Loubère (Siam. 1693. Pt. I. p. 14): “Vincent Le Blanc relates that the Peguins have a mixture of Lead and Copper, which he sometimes calls Gansa and sometimes Ganza, and of which he reports that they make statues and a small money, which is not stampt with the King's Coin, but which every. one has a right to make.”
This lump currency in lead, was widely spread, for Lockyer (Trade in India, 1711. pp. 43-4) tells us that "Money Changing is a great Trade in China), whence we are sure to meet with abundance of that Profession at their Stations up and down the Town : especially at the Corners of Streets where they sit with large Heaps of Leaden Cash, on Matts spread on the Ground before them. I could never learn the Profits of this Business: Whether they have so much per Cent, of the Government for putting them off, or do buy them of others at a cheap rate, I know not; but 'tis certain, their Gain is very considerable, else they could not keep their Families out of it ; some of them not changing a Tale in a Day."
And then we read in A Collection of Voyages undertaken by the Dutch E. I. Co., 1703, p. 137, that in Sumatra)" to prevent the ill Consequences, and bad Opinion they might have of them, the Dutch went on board their Ship again, where they found the Almadis [bonta] waiting for the payment of twelve pieces of Eight for Caxias (cash), which the Dutch had bought