Coin necklace belonging to an ethnic Karen woman in Kloh Taw village, Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Until recently hill Karens preferred to use out-of-tender British empire-issued rupee coins rather than the Burmese kyat or the Thai Baht. Village silversmiths frequently melted them down into necklaces, bracelets and rings and girls from well-off families were often given a necklace of coins as an inheritance. One rupee coins issued during the reign of Edward VII (between 1903 and...
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Coin necklace belonging to an ethnic Karen woman in Kloh Taw village, Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Until recently hill Karens preferred to use out-of-tender British empire-issued rupee coins rather than the Burmese kyat or the Thai Baht. Village silversmiths frequently melted them down into necklaces, bracelets and rings and girls from well-off families were often given a necklace of coins as an inheritance. One rupee coins issued during the reign of Edward VII (between 1903 and 1910) were the most popular as they contained the highest silver content.
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