def _is_type_hint(obj):
    """ Check if object is stored along with its type in the typical format:
            [str, str] => [typehint, value] e.g. ['$complex', (3 + 4j)]
    """
    return isinstance(obj, list) \
        and len(obj) == 2 \
        and isinstance(obj[0], str) \
        and obj[0][0] == '$'