Just picked up this 1944 China/Burma stag

theboz11

Opinions, should I submit it? I think I have the reverse upside down.

worldcoinguy

Great piece!

JCMhouston

That is most excellent, never seen one before, but now I have to go looking. And yes I would submit it.

sumnom

I have never seen one of these before. Very cool indeed!

OnlyBuffalos

Definitely submit it. Authentication is important.

ajaan

I would submit it for authentication.

theboz11

I have no problem with it's authenticity, it came out of a 30+ year old collection and matches every other one I have seen except the reeded edge variety which I believe is a 1943 and I have found this is to be 1944 from auction results in Germany. Here is a definition I stole off of a listing.

The Opium Poppies primarily grew in the area of Laos-Yunnan (China)-Burma during World War II, and the Allies needed the sap of those poppies to produce the Morphine that they desperately needed to reduce the suffering of their wounded soldiers. Even though some of this area was under Japanese control, the Allies were still able to get the Morphine, in exchange for silver taels such as this one.

KM X 3 (per NumisMaster), one year type, issued when Southeast Asia was under French control, but France was under the control of German forces during World War II. Large silver crown (slightly over 40mm in diameter), with a Stag with short horns on the obverse.

Krause has recorded these in different areas at different times. In the early Krause catalogs, they are listed under "Yunnan - Burma" in the Chinese section. In the 1991 ANA edition of the Krause catalog, there is a notation that they would be listed under French Indo China in the 2nd edition of the Unusual World Coins catalog, but I did not find the listing in the 5th edition of the Unusual World Coins catalog. They are currently listed in NumisMaster, under French Indo China.

SYRACUSIAN

That's one coin with history. I wonder how much opium the Allies were getting per Tael. I had seen this minimalistic design before but I never knew its story.

goossen

wow!! thats a great piece. never saw something similiar

mudskippie

Nice French Indochina piece, your reverse is correctly photographed . there are several versions available, and can be pricey in uncirculated. Collectors originally thought these were Chinese minted coins, but a recent document released from the French mint showed these were minted in Hanoi, Indochina. The one you have is also listed in Jean Lecompte's "Monnaies Et Jetons Des Colonies Francaises" 2007 edition, Lec#325 37,4g 44mm 1000% silver, BYA (Lang on Tael) the "-" is One, and the next word is Lang, currently shows 250 euros in AU-UNC. Lec#326 has similar design, but is listed at 1250 euros in AU-UNC. Happy collecting!

WWW

That is a very interesting issue and the history that goes with it.

theboz11

Thanks, That is some more invaluable information,