laos Silver lat (canoe money), 19th century, Kingdom of Lanchang (Luang Prabang)

87mm, 31.26 grams. Cf. Zeno 131571.

Debased, but with a visible silver content.

The Kingdom of Luang Prabang, located in present-day northern Laos, emerged as a successor state to the Lan Xang kingdom in the early 18th century, formally established in 1707 after Lan Xang fragmented into multiple polities. Although often under the influence or suzerainty of larger regional powers like Siam or Vietnam, Luang Prabang maintained a distinct political and cultural identity. Among its most distinctive numismatic products was the so-called "canoe money" - elongated, boat-shaped silver ingots used as currency. In the 19th century, these ingots were often debased with lower-grade silver or base metals, reflecting the kingdom’s economic hardships, trade imbalances, and limited access to high-purity bullion. Though crude in form, canoe money served as a practical medium of exchange and remains a notable example of Southeast Asia’s localized and adaptive monetary systems.

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