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Chiangmai Tok Lanna Kingdom
| Issuer | Lanna Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Year | 1600-1775 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
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| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Convex domed obverse surface exhibiting the characteristic texture of cast silver, produced by molten metal poured into an open mould. The field displays a highly irregular, granular surface with pronounced raised ridges and undulations inherent to the casting process, devoid of any struck design, legend, or figural motif. The rim is unfinished and irregular, reflecting the primitive nature of this proto-monetary form. Heavy patination and encrustation are present across the entire surface, consistent with age and burial. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Edge | Plain (irregular) |
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| Additional information |
The tok was the primary silver currency of the Lanna Kingdom during its long period of Burmese suzerainty, which began after the fall of Chiang Mai in 1558 and lasted well over two centuries. These pieces were cast rather than struck — a production method that persisted in mainland Southeast Asia long after milled coinage had become standard elsewhere — resulting in the irregular surfaces and variable alloy homogeneity characteristic of the type. The .570 fineness reflects regional silver standards that diverged sharply from the purer alloys demanded by contemporaneous European trade coinage flooding the broader Asian market.