1 Salung - Siamese Gambling token

1 Salung - Siamese Gambling token - obverse1 Salung - Siamese Gambling token - reverse

© Micheal Linke

Features

Location Thailand
Type Utility items › Counter token
Value 1 Salung (¼)
Composition Porcelain
Diameter 18 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Shape Round
Technique Coloured
Orientation Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
225548

Obverse

Four raised Chinese characters, painted green or red on glazed white field. Thick yellow ring around rim of coin.

Lettering:

记合

Reverse

Single Chinese character painted onto plain white field, glazed.

Lettering:

Translation: 1 Salung (1/4 baht)

Edge

Flat, smooth

Comments

Porcelain gaming tokens were first used in Siam as counters for a game called Fantan in Chinese-run gambling houses known collectively as Hong. Over time they came to be used as a substitute currency within the hong owners' districts and were known as pees. The pees were easier to use than the silver bars that served as legal tender in Siam at the time. It is believed that thousands of designs were created, in many various shapes and sizes. After a period of time the issuing Hong would recall the tokens and they would be declared valueless, resulting in a substantial profit to the issuer.

There was often a shortage of small change in Siam. Porcelain gaming tokens, issued by Chinese owned gambling houses were widely used as money in Siam during the 18th and 19th century. Eventually the King of Siam introduced modern coins to the country and the use of pees as currency was outlawed. The tokens did not disappear quickly, however. They were used as an underground currency into the 20th century.

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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