Majapahit's Currency Revolution: Kepeng Coins and the Chinese Connection

Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History · Apr 25, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Majapahit became the economic engine of the archipelago not through conquest alone, but through a quiet revolution in currency. They trace the origin of the Chinese copper cash—kepeng—that flooded Java under Emperor Hongwu and the Ming dynasty's ban on private trade. Lucas explains how Majapahit's ports, especially Surabaya and Tuban, became melting pots where Chinese junks, Indian cloth, and Moluccan spices exchanged hands using a standardised coinage that even the smallest farmer could use. The episode delves into the archaeological…