More than 125 years have passed since the publication of Millies’ catalogue of of the coinage of the Indian Archipelago and Malayan Peninsula which included a substantial number of Javanese temple coins. In those 125 years only fragmentary numismatic documentation involving magic pieces was published. Therefore the publication of the present book is a modern milestone. The book contains a wealth of documentation not only of the pieces themselves, but also of their non-currency purpose and the background of the ceremonies, symbolism and mythological figures shown. The catalogue is based on the Raffles collection of coin-shaped charms from Java in the British Museum, supplemented with data from other sources. Raffles’ activities emphasize plainly the lack of interest of the Dutch for Javanese history and culture during the preceding VOC administration that was devoted mainly to the pursuits of commerce. Only in 1847 did a Dutch publication appear mentioning Javanese temple-coins (gobogs).

       The pieces are classified into 333 different types based on 1050 specimens and grouped within 19 series according to their likely date and place of production.

       The catalogue is preceded by a number of introductory sections. These include:

1. Content and Arrangement,
2. Collections and Scholarship,
3. Classification and Designs,
4. Dating and Function.
5. Magic coins

       The 4^th section contains an interesting table on their metallic composition. This gives strong support to the idea that were made from melted down Chinese cash.
       After the catalogue and following the bibliography are two appendices. Appendix 1 lists the origin or whereabouts of the pieces; appendix 2 gives the translation of the various Arabic and Malay inscriptions. The two appendices are followed by three indexes:designs, design elements and general.
       There are 64 plates illustrating 464 specimens and 16 comparative plates with 48 figures.
       I have only one major criticism that involves the production and popularity of use of the gobogs. The author mentions on several occasions the practice of imitating and the use of originals for the production of moulds as common practice. Together with the large section on their possible function, this would suggest a large scale production throughout the ages and a use by a large number of people.
       The data on coin-finds as mentioned in the Minutes of the Batavian Society of Arts and Science (MBSAS) in the period 1864-1914, however, show that as compared to the amounts of Chinese cash and silver Hindu-pieces, the gobogs are generally found in small numbers. One exception is the find of 415 buried gobogs in 1893 near Bagelen. Evidence for large scale production is found only from the beginning of the twentieth century and later. In 1903 the Dutch numismatist Van der Chys suspected the presence of a fabrication unit on the eastern part of Java, based on the frequent offers of brand-new gobogs.
       It is a pity that the author does not comment on the gobog-finds referred to in the article by Robert Wicks (1986). In 1915 nearly 2500 pieces were found in the region of Kediri and very surprisingly according to the Dutch journal "Oudheidkundig Verslag" in 1940 more than 8500 gobogs were discovered. The largest finds of 2500 and 4561 pieces were in the regions of Tritikoelon and Banjoemas respectively.
       A small number of minor criticisms can be made. The criteria for inclusion or exclusion of certain classes of pieces are not quite clear. For example, on the one hand one might argue against the inclusion of pieces like nos 282 or 283, since they do not bear figures and are far away from the Javanese-style pieces. On the other hand they fall within the definition of the term "Magic coin" as given on page 9. But then it is not clear why Chinese coin-shaped charms produced in Java or the Malay Peninsula, are not included.
       For the sake of completeness and also to avoid the idea of neglecting non-British coin prototypes I would prefer to have seen mentioned on page 11 and illustrated in the comparative plates also Mexican/Spanish pieces from series 15 and the Chinese/Japanese pieces from series 17, Group 10. When looking at the semicircular arc of small stars present on some pieces like nos. 294 and 308, one might involuntarily think about a similar design on some US-trade dollars.
       Some alternatives for the wedding idea should have been mentioned. In MBSAS XLVI, page 108/109 (1908), it has been suggested that the tree is not a waringi tree, but a coconut tree (jav. klapa) whose leaves (jav. goen) play an essential role in the Javanese way of spinning. The female figure has been regarded as the goddess of spinning On page 75 the author comments on the use of kepengs on Bali before the twentieth century. Until as late as 1930 kepengs were still used as small money on the markets.

       I am sure this book will revive the study of these long neglected items and will remain undoubtly for long time the standard catalogue for them.