Coins from Java in London's mud<\/p>\n
LONDON: A bundle of 17th century coins from Java, Indonesia, has
\nbeen found buried in mud on the banks of London's River Thames.<\/p>\n
The 90 copper alloy coins are pierced with hexagonal holes and
\ninscribed in Arabic with the words Pangeran Ratou ing Bantan
\n(Lord King at Bantam)," according to experts at the London museum
\nwhere they will be displayed.<\/p>\n
Bantam, also spelled Bantan, was an important trading post in
\nthe East Indies in an age when the British and Dutch were
\ncompeting for a monopoly of the valuable spice trade.<\/p>\n
These are the first Javanese coins ever found in Britain, the
\nmuseum said in a statement.<\/p>\n
"How they got to London remains a mystery," it added. "Even in
\nthe 17th century they would have had no value in London.<\/p>\n
"One possibility is that a merchant dropped them overboard
\nfrom an East Indiaman (ship) moored in the Thames when he found
\nthey were worthless.<\/p>\n
"Another is that they were being imported as curios for one of
\nthe many collectors keen to acquire interesting objects from the
\nfarthest corners of the earth." -- Reuters<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coins-from-java-in-londons-mud-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}