Kingdoms in Indonesia and Malaysia Lot of 5 billon masa coins, Shailendra Empire, c.900-1000 CE, Sumatra, Indonesia

Nagari Ma (abbreviation for "Masa", the denomination) // Square incuse with a flower pattern. 12mm-13mm, around 2 grams each. Probably minted in Srivijaya (Sailendra's Empire capital in southern Sumatra). cf. Zeno 13058; Millies 6.

Later issues, struck in billon (debased silver), uncleaned.

These are probably the earliest of the native Indonesian coins. Masas of 20-ratti (about 1.69- 2.04 grams) were struck in gold and silver, through the quality of the silver quickly deteriorated and the later coins were lighter and were struck or cast in either debased silver or in some tin alloy. M.Mitchiner originally attributed these coins to Majapahit Empire, but in "The history and coinage of South East Asia" he re-attributed them to Sailendra Empire. The name "Sandalwood flower coinage" is derived from the shape of the square punch on the reverse which seems to have an imprint of a flower.

The price is for the entire group of 5 masas shown in the picture.

The Shailendra dynasty was the name of a notable Indianised dynasty that emerged in 8th-century Java, whose reign signified a cultural renaissance in the region. The Shailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism and covered the Kedu Plain of Central Java with Buddhist monuments, one of which is the colossal stupa of Borobudur, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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