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Gold "ring money," supposedly southeast Asian, approx. 400-600 AD.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Coins - Gold Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Gold  ring money,  supposedly southeast Asian, approx. 400-600 AD.
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This item SOLD at 2012 Oct 25 @ 14:26UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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Gold "ring money," supposedly southeast Asian, approx. 400-600 AD. Missing in Opitz. 60.4 grams; 30x27x10mm. A thick, tightly c-shaped ring of decidedly solid gold (not plated) with separately applied "cuffs" at the close-set ends, too heavy to be worn as jewelry but clearly circulated and similar to known money pieces from the "Golden Triangle" area of southeast Asia (Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), but also similar to various-sized pieces without cuffs attributed to India (gold-plated lead), Japan/Korea (gold-plated copper), Philippines and Indonesia (Flores Island), as well as to ancient Celtic, Greek and even Israelite cultures. We have shown this piece to several top experts, and while they cannot agree on attribution, they unanimously agree on its authenticity and non-modernity. Potentially rare and important, but intrinsically valuable nonetheless.