Malaysia, Kedah Sultanate. Muhammad Jiwa Abidin Muazzam Shah. 1710-1773. Tin Fish Money (41x21 mm, 7.20 g). Fish with clear scales and "fleud-de-lis" tail. VF, earthen deposits. Rare.
Between 1527-1800 a large variety of tin coins and ingots in various shapes were minted all over Malaysia. The tin, the biggest export of Malaysia, was cast in shapes of various animals and ingots which were used as coins. The pieces in animal forms, mostly fish, were minted in the little Kingdom of Kedah (which was located in the peninsular Malaysia), during the ruler of the sultan Muhammad Jiwa Abidin Muazzam Shah, between 1710-1773. These acted as a fractional change for the Spanish silver 8-real coins and came without a discernable denomination (presumably they were weighed during exchange), Opitz p.288, Ancient Coins Canada