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Perak Tin Animal Money, The Clam
The picture shows a large and a small tin ingot in the shape of a clam, the latter being of almost negligible weight, These are typical of those from Perak and recognised universally as Perak Animal Money. The value would have been based on the amount of tin by weight which could be exchanged for one Spanish Silver dollar. The clams both have a finish typical of old tin objects.
Since time immemorial clams have been harvested in the Perak River and it is therefore no surprise that a clam was used in this case initially as part of the ceremony of opening a new mine.
We estimate the date of these tin clams as around 1750 from Perak.