Melaka Coinage-Tampang Tin Ingot Money

Southern Indochina and Malay Archipelago since early times were under strong influence of India, which strongly influenced flat coinage of this region, and originated first forms of native primitive money. Succeed by Chinese presence in the region, Chinese ingots came into circulation, and developed new forms of ingot currency. Earlier ingots, flower money, served the prototype for "Namo" coins because of Indian Hindu symbol "na" shown on the coins.

This tin currency are used during 14-15 century around Parameswara (Sultan of Malacca) period. Most of the tin blocks are either in square or round in shape and all have flower motives on the top surface. The bottom has a hole approximately parralel to the axis. The hole is in the centre of bottom face at an angle to the face of the bottom of the "tampang". A stick was inserted, probably while the tin was molten; then when hardened, the tampang money could be easily removed from the mould.

Each tampang ingot money normally weight 1 LB 15 OZ (900 grammes) or sometimes 1 LB 10 OZ (750 grammes). The lightest of this tampang money is approximately 564 grammes and the heaviest is 879 grammes. The reason this tampang money loss some weight maybe because the of the holes beneath them. Some of tampang tin ingot money in Perak (upper north states in Malaysia) found, the holes beneath the tampang has been filled.

Here is some of Mallaca Tampang Tin ingot money:

Obverse:Four pointed petal flower.
Reverse: Normally it is either a square or a round block of tin.
Edge: Plain.
Diameter: Top 44.5 mm-45.5mm, Bottom 63 mm - 65 mm.
Height: 34 mm -36 mm.
Weight: 777.5 grammes.
Period: 14-15 century.
Composition: Tin.
Condition: Scarce.

Obverse: A complicated design in the centre of a round tampang.
Reverse: Normally it is either a square or a round block of tin.
Edge: Plain.
Diameter: Top 49 mm-49.5mm, Bottom 57 mm - 58 mm.
Height: 31 mm -33 mm.
Weight: 611.7 grammes.
Period: 14-15 century.
Composition: Tin.
Condition: Very rare.

Obverse: A four pointed petal flower with for dots-one on each side of the tampang.
Reverse: Normally it is either a square or a round block of tin.
Edge: Plain.
Diameter: Top 46 mm, Bottom 54 mm - 56 mm.
Height: 29.5 mm -30 mm.
Weight: 607.6 grammes.
Period: 14-15 century.
Composition: Tin.
Condition: Scarce.

Photo by: skydrivelive.com
Data source: Mallaca collection of coinage book, Vasilijs Mihailovs