A friend gave this to me a couple of years ago and I have not been able to identify it. It is about 24 mm, 3.59 g. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
It may not be Chinese. It could be from Vietnam. Looks close to Canh Hung Tong Bao (1740-87) Some for sale on this page... http://www.fsrcoin.com/Vietnamcash.html
Thanks for the tip. I've edited the image by rotating is as suggested. I'm not sure it is an exact match, but closer than I've come before! So, thanks again!
I feel like Vietnam was under Chinese control at the time. At least, they used Chu Nom, or Vietnamese-Chinese characters. Takes a bit of knowledge in written Chinese to be able to tell if a character is Chinese or Chu Nom. Some go both ways.
Not much to work with considering the condition of the example. Some more here.. https://art-hanoi.com/toda/16_.html
I'm afraid I have virtually no knowledge of either Chinese or Chu Nom, and the characters on my coin are difficult to read because of corrosion. I cannot tell if two similar characters are just different calligraphy or totally different characters.
Definitely agree with this. I was hoping someone would be familiar enough with the coin or the writing to fill in the gaps for me. The more I look, the more I think you are right in your original suggestion. Thanks for all the help!
I think the Vietnam attribution looks pretty good. I can't tell any difference between the characters and standard (not simplified) Chinese. Here's a list of the inscriptions on Vietnamese cash-type coins. I'm pretty sure I can make out "通寶" horizontally (right to left), which is also common on Chinese coins. I think it's 通宝 in simplified Chinese. The "景興" doesn't match any Chinese emperors I know of. It would be Jing Xing in Mandarin and, who was the grandfather of the wife of Sima Zhao. Anyway, I think the resemblance to a historical Chinese figure from around 200 AD is a coincidence, as he was not an emperor and wouldn't have appeared on coins.