The Ancient Coinage of Mainland Southeast Asia

by Robert S. Wicks

Coinage and numismatic symbols in Ancient Southeast Asia.

Dvaravati Coins Ricks

Publication: Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 195-225 | Cambdrige University Press with Department of History, National University of Singapore

Published: September 1985

Author: Robert S. Wicks

Pages: 30

Language : English

Originating from India, coins in Southeast Asia during the first millenium used mostly Indic symbols, such as the Rising Sun or the srlvatsa, an Indian auspicious symbol of fertility and abundance, usually associated with Sri Laksmi or with the tuft of hair on Vishnu's chest.

In Cambodia, recovered coins date from the pre-Angkorean period and are generally associated with the Funan or Chenla Kindgoms, with the Mon-Dravavati Kingdom in the North, or with the Piyu culture.

Photo: Dravavati coins (author's photo)

Tags: numismatic, money, trade

About the Author

Robert S Wicks

Robert S. Wicks

Museum professional and art historian, Robert S. Wicks is a specialist in Southeast Asian and native North American material culture. Skilled in Digital Humanities, Numismatics, History of Photography, U.S. Postal History. he is the Director of the Miami University (Ohio) Art Museum, and is engaged in First Nations culture preservation efforts (Wyandotte Nation and Miami Tribe of Oklahoma).