Bangka Island Tin Mining Shovel Shaped Token/Money 18th Century., itemnumber: W5200

Bangka Island Tin Mining Shovel Shaped Token/Money 18th Century.
Discover a fascinating piece of Southeast Asian numismatic and mining history.
This rare, primitive currency ingot originates from the famous tin mines of Bangka Island (Dutch East Indies, modern-day Indonesia) Dating back to the 18th century, these unique pieces were cast by Chinese miners and local authorities from nearly pure tin.
Shaped like a traditional mining shovel, this piece served a dual purpose: it was used as a valuable trade token (primitive money or gambar) to pay workers and merchants, and it functioned as a standardized weight of raw tin ready for export or smelting.Over the centuries, this piece has developed a beautiful, authentic dark gray oxidation patina, giving it incredible character and visual depth.

Dimensions: diameter in mm: 260x45x10, weigth in gram: 174

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