Sunday, August 7, 2011

139. JOHOR TIN KATUN HEXAGONAL WITH GROUP OF 11 DOTS

image 1: obverse and reverse of the coin


    This is my another Johor Tin Katun. Three holes exist on this coin, probably due to improper tin flow during its casting process. Varieties with other numbers of pusat may also exist. I paid around RM33 for this piece with a dealer in Kuala Lumpur. Maj. Pridmore had classified this coin  in Group C - Hexagonal, Class V - Pusat (dot). Please look at my other Johorean tin katun coins. Can you find the 11 dots?

   In a recent meeting with a collector few days ago, he had mentioned that he had read somewhere in a book that the hole(s) on the katun coins are intended, not due to improper tin inflow. The hole(s) serves as a means to attach a string through it for easier handling. But most of the katun coins do not have the holes, could it be they observed how easy Chinese traders handle their cash coin using strings. And plus, some of the holes look in nearly perfect round.

    These are examples of 11 dots and 8 dots of the same coin. Both of them have hole too!



Category Coin > Malay Sultanate Coin > Johor
Country Of Origin Johore (Now a state, a part of Malaysia)
Date Unknown
Grade about Extremely Fine
Denomination One Katun
Shape Hexagonal
Weight 0.85g - 1.60g from SS
Diameter 15mm - 16mm from SS
Thickness -
Composition Tin
Population Unknown
Reference SS32A
Mint -
Category Normal Circulation Coinage
Demonetized Yes
Engraver/Designer -
Variety Yes, SS has indicated that varieties of 7 dots, 10 dots and 11 dots exist, and other varieties with different number of dot (pusat) may also exist
Edge Plain
Obverse A group of 11 pusats.
Reverse Blank
Edge Plain
Extra Note

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