N° 1548 | Thailand Siamese Gambling Token 1990 - 2005 (ND) Modern Replica

1548 - Thailand Siamese Gambling Token 1990 - 2005 (ND) Modern Replica
1548 - Thailand Siamese Gambling Token 1990 - 2005 (ND) Modern Replica

Description

Porcelain 3.72 g.; Obv: Yellow crab inside the blue circle; Rev: Web motif with a yin-yang symbol in the center; Porcelain gaming tokens (also known as "Pee" 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 some 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 centuries

GPT Description

The Thailand Siamese Gambling Token from the years 1990 to 2005 is a modern replica of the traditional porcelain gaming tokens known as "Pee" tokens. These tokens were first used in Siam as counters for the game Fantan in Chinese-run gambling houses called Hong. The tokens featured intricate designs, with the 1990-2005 replica displaying a yellow crab inside a blue circle on one side and a web motif with a yin-yang symbol in the center on the other side. Historically, these porcelain gaming tokens became popular as a substitute currency within the districts of the Chinese-run gambling houses. They were easier to use than the silver bars that were the legal tender in Siam at that time. Thousands of designs were created in various shapes and sizes, and they were widely circulated as money during the 18th and 19th centuries in Siam. The issuing Hong would eventually recall the tokens, rendering them valueless and resulting in a significant profit for the issuer. Due to the shortage of small change in Siam, these porcelain gaming tokens played a crucial role in facilitating transactions within the community. Today, replicas like the Thailand Siamese Gambling Token 1990-2005 serve as a reminder of this unique chapter in Thailand's history where porcelain tokens were used as a form of currency in Chinese gambling houses.
starts in
-
-
My Bid
n/a
Sold Price

Other Lots in Coins - Asia

  • India Kutch 1 Kori 1897 VS 1954

  • Thailand Siamese Gambling Token 19th - 20th Century (ND)

  • India Mysore 20 Cash 1838

  • India Bombay Presidency 1 Rupee 1830 FE 1240

  • Cambodia 10 Centimes 1860

  • India Mewar 1 Rupee 1928 VS 1985