Leyten, John - The History, Genealogy, Titles and Coins of the Rulers of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh - 2025

Summary

In 2004 Leyten published in the JMP: Gold coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh: Their origin, name, and weight in a historical context, with a list of the names of 20 rulers of Samudra-Pasai and their genealogy, based on their (undated) coins.

Recently obtained information and newly found coins make it necessary to update the knowledge about and catalogue of the coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh.

This study deals with the names, titles, genealogy, and history of the rulers of Samudra-Pasai from ca. 1265 to 1524 and those of the rulers of Aceh from ca. 1497 to 1903 and updates the catalogue of the coins.

Chapters:

1.  The first chapter gives a general introduction to the study of the coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh, the titles on their coins, and the weight system for the coins. This system originated from India and came with traders establishing themselves on the northwest coast of Sumatra. This chapter will also explain that the coins were called “Mas,” after the weight of the Indian Suvarna Masha.

2.   Chapter two presents the history, genealogy and coins of Samudra-Pasai.

The combination of the work by Guillot & Kalus of 2008 “Les monuments funéraires et l’histoire du Sultanat de Pasai à Sumatra” (Funeral monuments and the history of the Sultanate of Pasai in Sumatra) and Leyten’s publication of 2004 make it possible to update the genealogy of the rulers of Samudra-Pasai and the dating of the coins.

3.   Chapter three presents the history, genealogy and coins of Aceh.

In addition to the publication of Leyten in 2004, new coins are described, and the history of Aceh is expanded.

4.   Chapter four gives the catalogues of the coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh.

New coins are added to the catalogues and corrections are made based on new insights. One coin had to be reassigned from Aceh to Samudra-Pasai.

The (sub-) numbering issued in the publication by Leyten of 2004 is retained.

Where coins are added or changed in historical sequence, the numbering is not adjusted to ensure that earlier references to the coins remain intact. Consequently, the (sub-) numbering is not sequential in places.