Catalog
1 Unit - "Srivijaya Bean Ingot" Nudibranch
| Issuer | Srivijaya (Indonesian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1000-1300 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 0.5 g |
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| Obverse description | A seven-rayed star rendered in raised domed relief occupies the central field of this small, irregularly shaped tin piece. The rays radiate symmetrically outward from a central boss, each tapering to a blunt point. The flan surface is heavily textured and uneven, characteristic of primitive cast and hammered tin coinage from the Srivijaya maritime polity. No legend, inscription, or border is present. The overall fabric is convex, lending the obverse a dome-like profile consistent with the so-called bean ingot typology. |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a stylized representation of a nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk, modeled in low to medium relief within a shallow, concave field enclosed by a raised irregular rim. The creature's distinctive lobed or branched cerata are suggested by a cluster of rounded, lumpy protrusions arranged asymmetrically across the die area. The concave recessed field and prominent raised border are characteristic of this Srivijayan tin ingot series, reflecting the maritime cultural milieu of the issuing polity. No inscription, legend, or additional decorative elements are present. The flan edges are ragged and unfinished, consistent with the primitive casting and hammering technique employed. |
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| Additional information |
Srivijaya's use of tin coinage reflects the empire's geographic position astride the Strait of Malacca, where access to Bangka and Belitung island tin deposits gave local rulers a monetary material that Indic and Chinese trading counterparts simply didn't control. These small bean-shaped ingots circulated alongside imported Chinese cash coins and likely functioned at the lowest register of market transactions. The "nudibranch" collector nickname comes from the irregular cast surface texture, which under magnification bears a passing resemblance to the marine slug — an informal designation, not a period term.