Postby davidross » Wed Oct 09, 2013 12:41 am
Hello Maurice,
I believe that your button is a piece of Thai "bullet money." I'm not sure if the shank is original, but they are frequently found with them so that the pieces could be tied together (and probably used as buttons or ornaments).
If the marks are clear, it may be possible to identify it by the reigning ruler. At first glance, yours looks to be 18th or 19th century.
Wikipedia has a good overview, divided by Kingdoms.
Regards,
David R