I dont expect too much as I think there is just one other here who knows Chinese really well. But I cant find this one anywhere. I have a lot of books (including those confusing references written in Chinese). Its a 3 Zhu from the North & South Dynasties. Obverse is San Zhu, but what is the reverse? Any reference? Hartill really doesnt treat these with much more than a passing. They are scarce to very rare. Any suggestions?
The obverse looks like Si (4) Zhu, not San (3) Zhu. Cursory glance looks like Ding Xiang, which corresponds to H-13.57. (Your right picture would be upside down if this is the case.) You have a very nice specimen there! I have read that these were found in Western Han tombs, so fewer collectors are using the traditional dating to around the Sui Dynasty. Here is mine, albeit an H-13.55 "Si Zhu" / "Dong A" I got from Scott Semans for $40: It really does look a lot better in hand...
Yea, that was a typo. Its clearly a Si Zhu. The obverse(?) is as Hartill 13.51. But I dont know what the reverse is. He ascribes the 'hangar' as orienting to the bottom, which makes sense when you read the inscription. I just sold some coins to Hartill. I suppose I should have asked him first. I'll send it off to him and see what he says.
I spoke with David Hartill. He didnt have anything to add on the question. They are all very rare and he was not able to read the inscription.
