🪙 Burmese 10 Pyas coin with Chinthe – Akha ethnic use #746

An old square 10 Pya coin from Myanmar (Burma) , minted in the 1940s–1950s, depicting the Chinthe , a mythical lion guardian of Burmese temples.

This light alloy coin was part of the regular circulation after Burma's independence. While its face value is modest, its iconography is deeply symbolic: the Chinthe is a sacred protector, associated with vigilance, moral strength, and the protection of holy places.

The coin was intentionally pierced , not as a modern alteration, but as part of its ethnographic use . This type of piercing is common among some hill tribes of Southeast Asia, notably the Akha , who use these coins as decorative elements for:

• traditional outfits
• ceremonial ornaments
• symbolic ornaments sewn onto clothing

In this context, the coin leaves its monetary function to become an object of identity and culture , a bearer of memory and tradition.

This part can now be used as:

• 🧿 ethnographic decorative element (pendant)
• 🪷 A symbolic object to place on an altar or in a spiritual space
• 🧵 component for costume, jewelry or handcrafted creation
• 🗺️ Collectible item Asia / Burma / Hill tribes

Features :

🌏 Country: Myanmar (Burma)
🦁 Motif: Chinthe (mythical Burmese lion)
🗓️ Period: 1940s–1950s
🧿 Use: Recycled currency for ethnic use (Akha)
⚠️ Condition: Pierced, patina from use
📐 Dimensions: 2cm square
⚓ Weight: approximately 4 grams