TRADE CURRENCY OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO EXHIBITION "GOLD' TOKEN.

The "Gold" Token Of The Trade Currency Of The Malay Archipelago Exhibition At Money Museum Of Bank Negara Malaysia.
This Money Museum Token was issued to commemorate the officially opening of the Exhibition of Trade Currency of the Malay Archipelago, Money Museum of Bank Negara Malaysia on 18th May 1995 by Y.B.Datin Sri Dr. Wan Azizah binti Dato' Wan Ismail.
The Numismatic heritage of the Malay Archipelago is as rich as the region itself. There were few other regions that had such a level of trade that has existed in this part of Southeast Asia. Every type of seafarer had been here over the centuries, bringing with them a wide range of currencies. From Chinese copper cash to South American "pieces of eight", Nusantara has been a magnet for money of all shapes, sizes and materials. When these are combined with the indigenous currency minted in the Archipelago, the legacy is immense.
This exhibition explores the coins and banknotes that have circulated in the Malay Archipelago, telling a story that goes back 2,000 years and that continues to evolve. By telling this story, the objective is to create a deeper understanding of the region. The history of the archipelago is largely about contact and the interconnectivity that existed in the region even during that period. Movement between islands and the mainland are mirrored by the encounters between the indigenous and foreign peoples. Farmers, traders, rulers, missionaries and the military have all had a part in the cosmopolitan societies that existed in Nusantara.
Money has taken many forms over the millennia, and our region has seen a greater diversity than most. Cowrie shells, tin "tampang" and brass gongs are some of the more exotic stores of value.
This token was initially mistaken for a gold token by some senior Malaysia numismatists. Actually it was minted on a highly polished brass planchet. This was confirmed by Puan Rohaya, the ex-chief curator of Money Museum BNM.
In my survey, so far there are only three pieces known to exist.One piece was located by me in Singapore and two pieces in Malaysia ,so this is a rare Money Museum BNM's VVIP token.

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