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BRUNEI: brass cannon money (541g), ca. mid-19th century, VF-XF

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins - Asia & Middle-East Start Price:180.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
BRUNEI: brass cannon money (541g), ca. mid-19th century, VF-XF
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Sep 19 @ 09:00 (UTC-07:00 : PDT/MST)
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BRUNEI: brass cannon money (541g), 19th to early 20th century, SS-60, Opitz p.100, known as meriam kecil in Malay, comprising a 213mm-long barrel with a 13mm caliber, decorated with two protruding fish, an older example made in the mid-19th century or earlier, used as currency in Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak and other parts of Southeast Asia, VF-XF. These miniature cannons were made of various metals including bronze, brass, copper, and iron, and were actually fired on important occasions such as weddings and the birth of children. Valued by weight at $25-30 a picul, they were used extensively for a multitude of purposes, such as the barter of goods, bride price, payment of fines and the purchase of slaves (a slave being valued in piculs of brass guns). With the introduction of coins, these cannons gradually fell out of use. Many were also melted down during World War II, which accounts for their rarity today.