Lat money

Lat money specimens at the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum in Thailand

Lat money (Lao: ເງິນລາດ) refers to the bar-shaped coinage minted and used as currency in the kingdom of Lan Xang and its successor kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Champasak. "Lat" is a Lao abbreviation for "talat" or "market," referring to the small denomination currency which may also be referred to as "boat money" or "Ngern Heua."[1] The bar-shaped coinage of Lan Xang could be differentiated according to shape, weight, metal, alloy, and mint marks.[2][3]

  1. ^ The Coin Museum.
  2. ^ Cresswell (1974), p. 27-37.
  3. ^ Gabel (2009), p. 74.