Lan Xang

Lat Copper Ingot Set

瀾滄王國

拉特銅錠組

Item number: A1321

Year: AD 1353-1571

Provenance: Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH 2023

According to auction information, this is a set of 23 lat copper ingots circulated in the Kingdom of Lan Xang between the 14th and 18th centuries. Lat was a type of currency prevalent in the highland regions of Southeast Asia before European colonisation, commonly referred to as “tiger tongue money” due to its distinctive shape.

These bar-shaped copper ingots, known as lat, have been analysed using XRF testing, which identified three material compositions based on the proportion of copper and other alloys: red copper, brass, and bronze. The set of ingots can be classified into three primary morphological types: the first type is boat-shaped with a concave centre; the second type features a spindle-like form with a surface covered in regular granulated patterns; and the third type, which is the largest in the collection, is a variant of the boat shape that includes spoon-like depressions on both sides.

The Kingdom of Lan Xang was the first unified dynasty in the history of Laos, encompassing the entirety of present-day Laos, northern Thailand, and parts of Yunnan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Lao, “Lan Xang” translates to “The Land of a Million Elephants.”

物件編號: A1321

年代: 公元 1353-1571 年

來源: 條頓堡錢幣拍賣 2023

根據拍賣行的資訊，這是一組公元14至18世紀，瀾滄王國流通的拉特銅錠，總計有23枚。拉特為一種歐洲殖民以前，流行於東南亞高地地區的貨幣種類，因為其外觀也被稱作是「虎舌錢」。

這些名為拉特的條形銅錠，根據XRF測試結果依照銅和其他合金比例的差異，有紅銅、黃銅和青銅這三種材質。這組銅錠按照型態大致能分為三類，一種是中間有凹陷的船型，第二種是表面有規則顆粒的梭狀，還有本系列尺寸最大的第三種，在兩側多了一個勺狀凹槽的船型變體。

瀾滄王國為寮國歷史上第一個統一王朝，其疆域含括今日寮國全境，泰國北部和部分的雲南、越南、柬埔寨和緬甸。「瀾滄」在寮語又有「百萬大象」的意思。

類似/相同物件 請看:

美國 國家歷史博物館 National Museum of American History

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/nmah_1068534

英國 大英博物館 The British Museum

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_CH-687

更多相關訊息請參考:

https://www.moneymuseum.com/en/coins?&id=2367

http://www.charm.ru/coins/misc/ingotmoneyforms.shtml

http://coinmuseum.treasury.go.th/en/news_view.php?nid=141

http://www.wangdermpalace.org/Pod%20Duang%20Money.html