PECCA DE MALACCA (PIECE OF MALACCA)

Posted by :

Hj Zulheimy Maamor > 26 August 2020

Tahukah anda jenis meriam yang dipamerkan di Lisbon Military Musuem di Portugal ini adalah meriam Kerajaan Melayu Melaka yang dirampas oleh Portugis pada tahun 1511.

Ianya adalah jenis 'forged-welded wrought iron cannon', berukuran panjang 336 cm, saiz kaliber 17.5 cm, dan boleh menembak peluru batu atau besi seberat 17.5 kg (38 lb) sejauh 650 hingga 3,700 meter. 14 orang askar diperlukan khusus untuk operasi artileri termasuk proses penjajaran & pembedilan.

Catatan dari Alfonso de Alburquerque (Comentários do Grande Afonso de Albuquerque) bahawa ada lebih kurang 3,000 senjata api dirampas oleh penjajah Portugis selepas tentera Melaka berundur. Ada catatan lain mengatakan 8,000 senjata api.

Apa yang diilustrasikan di buku buku sejarah zaman saya dulu yang tentera Melaka menggunakan keris dan lembing adalah pembohongan sejarah semata-mata yang dicipta oleh orientalis orientalis barat.... sehingga ada pembesar Melayu sendiri pernah menyindir kata orang Melayu nak merdeka tapi nak buat jarum sebatang pun tak tahu....

Ye memang betul ... orang Melayu tak buat jarum ... dia buat meriam ...

Ada ke lojik Pelabuhan Melaka yang digelar Venice of the East di kawal oleh askar askar yang hanya bersenjatakan Keris dan Lembing... sedangkan Melaka tersenarai antara pelabuhan terkaya di Dunia pada zaman itu....

itu masalahnya kalau buta sejarah...

Bangsa sendiri di hina ...bangsa penjajah di agung agungkan... Sedangkan Tamaddun kebanyakannya bermula di Asia... bukan Barat...

Semoga Tamadun Sungai Batu akan dibongkar satu persatu... Aamiin....

__________________________________________________________________

PECCA DE MALACCA

"Pecca de Malacca" (often translated as "Piece of Malacca") refers to one of the most intriguing and rare examples of "monetary history" from the Malay Peninsula—specifically from the Sultanate of Malacca and the subsequent Portuguese occupation.

Here is a breakdown of what these "pieces" were and why they matter.

1. The Origin: Tin "Bastard" Coins

Before the Portuguese arrived in 1511, the Malacca Sultanate used a unique currency made of tin. Since Malacca was a global hub for the tin trade, they minted large, often heavy, circular or hexagonal coins.

• Portuguese Influence: When Afonso de Albuquerque conquered Malacca, he didn't just bring gold and silver; he realized he needed a local "small change" to keep the markets running.
• The Name: The term Pecca is likely a Portuguese corruption of the Malay word Pitis (a small coin) or simply a reference to a "piece" of metal.

2. Physical Characteristics

These weren't your standard shiny pocket change. They were often:

• Material: Almost entirely tin (low-grade ore).
• Design: Usually featured the Portuguese Coat of Arms on one side and a cross (Cross of Christ) or a ship (the Flor de la Mar) on the other.
• Shape: Frequently irregular, cast rather than struck, giving them a "crude" or "bastardized" look compared to European minted coins.

3. The Economic "Tin" Standard

While the rest of the world was obsessed with the Gold Standard, Malacca operated on what was essentially a Tin Standard.

Coin Type	Metal	Value/Usage
Catholico	Gold	High-value trade, international deals.
Malaquese	Silver	Middle-tier commerce.
Bastardo/Pecca	Tin	Daily market use (buying food, spices, and supplies).

Why is it famous today?

Today, a "Piece of Malacca" is a high-value collector's item. Because tin is a soft metal that oxidizes and "rots" (a process called tin pest), very few authentic specimens have survived the humid, salty air of the Malacca Strait for 500 years. Finding one in good condition is a numismatic jackpot.

Google Gemini AI

29 January 2026: 6.43 p.m