I ran across the following coin in a group I got from a coin dealer. I think I've been able to narrow it down to a Chinese coin "Boo-Clowan (Peking) Hu-PU Board of Revenue". If anyone can help, I'd like to know if its a coin or token, if its a coin, what is the denomination, and the year. It appears to be a cast coin. Thanks for taking a look...Bill
You have identified the country (China) and the mint (Board of Revenue) correctly. The inscription reads shun zhi tong bao and these were "cash" coins cast during the reign (1644-1661) of Emperor Shi Zu of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Unfortunately, your coin is a modern reproduction. It is actually a "struck" (machine-made) coin as opposed to an authentic "cast" coin. The tiny raised dots on the obverse side are meant to make it appear to be cast. China did not produce struck "cash" coins during the reign of Emperor Shi Zu. These reproductions ("fakes") are very inexpensive and are made in very large quantities to serve as souvenirs, decorations, and for fortune-telling and feng shui purposes. Gary
I have a great World Coin book that has all the Chinese marks would you like for me to post those for you?
Aww shucks!! And I thought I might have really found something. Oh Well, it goes into my reproductions group. I have the standard catalog of world coins 1901-2000, and it has a lot of Chinese Information in it. Is there a book that identifies reproductions? If you have something that would be better to help identify these marks, I'd greatly appreciate it. Oh, and by the way, what is feng shui purposes?..Regards, Bill
