Korean Coin or What? I've searched everywhere, and I am answer less.. Please help!

my images are rather small, but if you any info it all shall more helpful than the nothing that i currently know, thank you..

 

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I can't really see it that well, do you think you could get some better photos? it'd help a lot!

OH! welcome to CoinTalk!

 

Also, I have seen variations of this coin, the front atleast, (the side with two figures) or what i think is the front in the 2011 Korean banknotes catalogue, but this one was not present in the book at all. I will upload some better images momentarily.

 

With the loupe at the top, I am thinking its a charm or pendant and not a coin at all. If the loupe looks like it may have been added later its possible its a coin that they did that to, but we would need to see clearer pictures.

 

im trying to get the best shot, but out of 30 or so pictures these one's are the greatest..

 

i can't tell if these figures are people or horses..

 

here's a bit clearer..

 

here's another that eludes me as well..

 

The first is definitely a piece of jewelry. On one side its sorta kinda trying to represent an idea of a coin, but no coin that I know of ever looked like that.

The second one appears to be a charm, but I am not an expert on these. I can tell you its not a coin.

Hopefully GXseries can comment, as I believe he is an expert on asian charms.

Chris

 

Like i said, variations of the coin/charm thing are presented in the Korean Banknotes Catalogue of 2011, but this specific one is not present in the book itself, so it being in the book makes me think that it was once a form of currency. Thanx for the help medoraman, everything helps in general, plus i just plain like to learn. Do think it would appropriate to pm GXseries, or is that a bad idea?

 

Both are Korean charms.

The first charm has "two children" on one side.

The other side has the Chinese character fu (福), meaning "happiness", in the center and is surrounded by seven connected dots representing the "Big Dipper".

I explain the second Korean charm in this thread.

Gary

 

Thank you so much Gary, I really do appreciate it, do you know how old the two children happiness charm is, or what era it would be from? Should I wear it, or is it something rare that i should pay extra close attention to?

 

Oh dear, I missed this thread.

medoraman, I think you are overrating me when it comes to Korean numismatics. I'm clueless when it comes to charms other than able to read bits and pieces.

The second is a Korean charm but I am uncertain about the first one. manymore is most likely to be right. Just out of curiousity, what made you think it is Korean? There had to be some kind of clue that made you think so otherwise most people would have guessed it's Chinese.

 

Gary, sorry for forgetting about your expertise on these. My fault.

Chris

 

Actually, my knowledge is very limited regarding these Korean charms, Chris.

That's true. Most collectors would have assumed it was Chinese.

There is a whole series of small Korean charms which resemble Chinese charms but have this distinctive "two children" theme.

There are also very large and elaborate Korean charms with this same motif.

I have not researched these charms so I cannot really give an answer. If I had to guess, I would say they are late 19th century or early 20th century.

These Korean charms are not as common as the Chinese charms. If authentic, I would guess your charm to be worth US$300 or more.

Gary

 

On the first charm with the "two children", i originally thought it was Korean because my buddy's wife said she seen her grandpa with one went she went to Korea to visit him before he passed, so I looked in the Korean banknotes catalogue of 2011 and seen different variations of the same charm with the two children front and different designs on the backside. On the second charm, I just thought it was from Korea based on the fact that she had seen those as well.

 

thanks guys for all the help, is there a marketplace type deal on this site, and are there any buyer protections set in place..?