Hello, my father in law had a pouch with these coins I have tried so many websites to see if some of the coins I have would match. No luck, first of all I have no idea what Country they are from so I hope that someone could name the Country and the year possibly? I'm going to post pictures but forgive me I'm not sure which is the front or the back or if the pictures are upside down or sideways. I have so many of them, will it be alright if I post another thread with more? As you can see I need help. Thank you
Here are a couple good sites to help identify Chinese cash coins. http://www.sportstune.com/chinese/coins/index.html http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/china.htm#index
I have some that appear to look like them. I think that they are called Chinese tokens. My great grandfather gave them to me when I was about 5 - early fifties. He said he found them when he was a little boy in a shipyard in Scotland. It had to be in the 1860's. I don't know much about them, but they are the only coins that I still have from that time. They are sentimental, so I wasn't worried about value.
They are Chinese cash and are coins, not really "tokens". They are actually quite common and unless they are rare varieties or mint marks they are not valuable from any standpoint other than the interest of those that collect coins for the historic value. Quick look... 2nd & 3rd and 6th coins look like China, Chien-lung- Qianlong 1736-1795. The reverse show different mintmarks. 4th looks like it may be K'ang-hsi, 1662-1722. 5th looks like later milled coinage. Kwangtung, Y# 190, (1890-1908)
Looking more at #4. Might be a "poem cash". There was a thread on these started a while back but I can't find it now. Edit: found it. Looks like #4 is Ning / Ning (Nanjing) noted in the first link in the first post in this thread... https://www.cointalk.com/threads/chinese-poem-coins-1661-1722.302330/#post-2844442
Reign title, mint, date, reference 2. Qing Long tong bao, Board of Revenue Mint, 1775-1781, Hartill 22.219ish 3. Qing Long tong bao, Baoding, Zhili, 1747-1751, Hartill 22.357 4. Kang Xi tong bao, Jiangning, 1662-1670, Hartill 22.119 5. Giang Xu tong bao, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Hartill 22.1334 6. Qian Long tong bao, Board of Revenue Mint, 1799-1800, "Shan Longs" Hartill 22.238ish 5 is machine struck while all others are cast coins. 6 has a special variety (Shan Longs) that was used at the end of the reign of Qianlong.
Made a copy of your response, Thank you very much! I have so many more to look up and all of these responses have helped a great deal. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Sorry, I have one more question...What is Hartill? By now you must have guessed I'm not a collector of these coins. Thanks again
Well, I have another question...I clicked on the link from your response and not sure what this means. It went to a site PCGS and said you were trying to collect coins from different countries? Or are you selling these coins? If you are looking for coins from different countries do they have to be graded by PCGS?
David Hartill wrote "Cast Chinese Coins." It is reference book for the types of coins that you have posted. There are other books, but this is probably the most used for identification (English language). The link in my response is part of my signature line. It has nothing to do with your coins. I collect world crowns by date and yes, they are all certified by PCGS.
