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1 Lat 1 Tamlung
| Issuer | Kingdom of Lan Xang |
|---|---|
| Year | 1571-1592 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse presents the smooth, gently convex underside of the cast fusiform bar, essentially plain and featureless aside from the natural surface texture of the cast billon metal. Faint scratched lines and minor casting irregularities are visible across the surface, consistent with hand-cast currency bars of the Lan Xang period. The tapering pointed ends are characteristic of the lat/tamlung denomination and served as a practical identifier of value by weight. |
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| Mintage | ND (1571-1592) |
| Additional information |
Lan Xang's billon issues of this period circulated during the reign of Mahosena, a time when the kingdom was navigating increasingly aggressive pressure from the Burmese Toungoo dynasty to the west. The heavy weight of this piece reflects a monetary tradition rooted in weight-based exchange rather than face-value convention — the "tamlung" being a unit of mass before it was ever a denomination.
Billon use here signals deliberate debasement of what had been higher-silver issues, likely tied to military expenditure during decades of near-continuous conflict along the Mekong corridor.