Indonesian Wayang Charm
V.Belyaev
charm@postman.ru
16-Sep-02
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge
Weight 3.84 g      Diameter 25.2 mm
Obverse:
Kan ei [tsu ho] (top-bottom-right-left) - legend of the Japanese coin, issued in 1862 AD. Right and left characters were removed and two human figures were cutted.

Reverse:
Bun - Edo (Tokyo) mint mark.

      Description from coin dealer:
The local Indonesian people names such items 'Wayang' or 'Puppet' coins. The obverse shows two Balinese men dancing at the left and right side, wearing traditional 'sarong' clothes.       The wayang or shadow puppet is the most prominent theatrical perfomance in Bali. In a wayang kulit performance, flat cut-out figures are silhouetted against a translucent, white screen, with a coconut-husk lamp as its source of light. It is mostly perfomances or enactments of religious mythology blended into one with historical facts that will keep a Balinese entertained all long night.
      These wayang figures are manipulated with rods by the puppeteer or dalang, who tells the story accompanied by a orchestra and occassionally chanting or singing of a singer.

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      Recommended links:
Dr.Tjong D.Yih (17-Sep-02):
      I looked with interest on your wajang Japanese cash. It seems to me rather recent made product. Do you know the wajang figure on annamese cash? I consider this too as a modern artefact. I bought it at a coin fair. The carton that contained it said it originated from the island of Bali. At right you can see modern Hindu cash (Bali) - Wayang picture on Annamese cash inscribed Tri Binh thanh bao(1418-28 AD).
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