Catalog
1/2 Lat 1/2 Tamlung
| Issuer | Lan Xang, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1353-1571 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Silver |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Plain convex surface of the cast silver bar, exhibiting the characteristic smooth, slightly irregular finish typical of hand-cast Lan Xang currency. The field shows natural flow lines and surface texture consistent with casting in an open or bi-valve mould, with no applied devices, symbols, or inscriptions. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Lan Xang — "Land of a Million Elephants" — was founded by Fa Ngum in 1353 and at its height controlled much of the middle Mekong basin. These bullet-shaped silver pieces, sometimes called "rod money" in older Western literature, circulated across a trade network stretching into Yunnan, the Shan states, and Ayutthaya. The weight standard traces to Indian ratti-based systems transmitted through the Mon and Khmer, not to Chinese weight conventions as was once assumed.
The two-century dating window reflects genuine uncertainty — no mint records survive, and attribution rests almost entirely on find provenance and weight correspondence to documented Lao standards.