Extremely Rare A ~ Very Rare B ~ Rare C ~ Not So Many D ~ Common E
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I post below is an email received from
MR. B.B. on Thu, 13 December 2008. The email is self-explanatory. Hello, I recently saw your web page that shows a picture of an "Unknown Chinese Cash Statue". I was wondering if you have found any additional information about this statue as I have a similar statue of two figures made out of similar "cash coins". See attached picture. I would be very interested to hear if you have any new or additional information this type of "coin statue". I received my example from my grandmother who had traveled extensively throughout Asia. Thank you Brian |
 Picture by courtesy of Mr. B.B. |
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Recent Additional Information
During the reseach in the recent years, I found that the Chinese ships loaded with silk, tea and porcelain started from Chuanchau of Fukien Province or the zone of Leizhou Peninsula of Kwangtung Province of China to India and Middle East in ancient time. Chinese ships navigated along the coasts of Pacific Ocean and India Ocean. Chinese cash coins were also brought as gift to the South East Asia districts via Sea Silk Road voyage at the same time. Chinese coins were circulated in Bali of Indonesia in about 7th centuries. The Balinese believed that all metals have mystical power to human beings, so that the Balinese used cash coins as offerings on some special occasions such as their weddings, birthdays, burials and cremations. Cash coins were also used as decorations for their temples or shrines. Gradually, cash coins were chosen as raw materials in handicraft of Bali. The Balinese coin statue makers used cash coins to make the coin statues. These statues were including Sri and Saraswati Godesses, Buddha statue and other Balinese figures. Now, coin statue making is a very popular handicraft in Bali of Indonesia and the coin statues become a type of souvenirs for the tourists in Bali. YKL |
