Pewter is an alloy of copper and tin (more recently an alloy of Copper Tin and Antimony), and the Malaysian Company of Selangor is famous for their pewter products. I have a cup made from this material.
The mineral for tin is casiterite, and very large deposits of it are found in Malaysia.
Thus, Malaysian Peninsular has issued many tin and tin alloy coins in the past, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Thailand has also officially issued tin coins, but I suspect that they are made of pewter, because copper and antinimony can be used to harden the alloy. I have a few of these, taken from dealers' junk boxes over the years.
Pure Antimony has been used in coins as well, but I can think of only one issue from China.
Interestingly I have never seen a pewter coin, (except as for above?), but I have not even the slightest doubt that they exist, and most probably an issue in the Mayasian area, but not of modern or current issue, because as the OP has suggested, pewter is really too soft for a modern issued coinage.
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Currently pure tin at USD 17,200 per tonne is slightly more valuable than pure Nickel at USD 14,200 per tonne, Antimony price USD 6,000 per tonne.
I have a rather large 2kg chunk of pure tin, but has been machined to be used for a lap for my faceting machine.
I am currently cutting Australian natural yellow sapphire, the rough for which comes from Anakie, in Central Queensland.
Edited by sel_69l
12/15/2019 06:17 am
Posted 12/15/2019 06:15 am
