Hi, I bought these coins for .50c each today, my friends are having a yard sale this weekend to raise money for their 4 year old daughter's future education, long ways off I know, but you can never start too early.... and I figure if they don't sell, well they are cool and will go nicely with my other cash coins, or i will give them as gifts to people.... but I was really hoping someone could at least tell me the dates or time periods these are from, and any other info so I can put it on the 2x2 and inform possible customers. Any help would be very much appreciated. Here are some photos, I hope I have them rightside up. If not, and you can't flip them properly yourself, let me know and I will retake the photos.
Ching dynasty, the first pics posted are the reverses, the second pics the obverses. They are pictured right side up. Sorry I do not have my book here to look up the emperors for you, but I am sure someone will be able to. I used to know them by heart, but it has been a few years. The Ching dynasty lasted basically from the 17th century to the very early 20th century. They are the most common cash coins, with the obverse in Chinese and the reverses in Manchu.
Ah, wonderful, thank you. Even not knowing the rulers is fine, I was mainly looking for a time period and dynasty, which you gave me. Thanks for letting me know which side is which too You are good people medoraman, very smart and always helpful, and for that I thank you.
First image displays the reverse sides: Top: Yunnan Province mint Left: Board of Works mint Right: Board of Revenue mint Second image displays the obverse sides: Top: Inscription is jia qing tong bao. Cast during reign of Emperor Ren Zong (1796-1820) Left: Inscription is qian long tong bao. Cast during the reign of Emperor Gao Zong (1736-1795) Right: same as above Gary
Thanks Rex, you too. I love Chinese coins, after US and world coins, the idea of owning an 18th century coin for less than a buck is really cool, Even better is a 12th century coin, or even a 1st century coin for less than a dollar. You can put together a fascinating collection very cheaply of these. I will tell you the "thrill" of owning them so cheaply eventually wears off after the first 5-10,000 of them though. This is why I have taken a break from them for a bit, but still add some scarceer coins from time to time. PM me if you ever want some trusted sources.
Gracias Wow, thank you Gary.... you answered the only questions I had left, as far as the time periods, thank you. I figure if I don't sell these at the yard sale on Saturday, I will either give them to a friend, or maybe give them away in a contest on here or something. medoraman: Interesting, I didn't know you were a collector of these types. I will certainly talk with you about sources if my interest in these coins deepens, however I am basically collecting only Ancient Roman coins at the time. These Chinese cash coins are quite fascinating, and I understand what you say. I want to be able to share that fascination of holding a coin that was struck so long ago and so far away with other people. I have never really collected these coins, I have a few others from China, and about 5 or so from Japan, all were gifts from a friend of mine who spent alot of time in southeast Asia during the 1960s and 70s. The oldest one I have is from the 1700s I believe. A bit unrelated to my original post and coins, but this is my favorite one that I have, I started a thread several years ago on here and that is how I identified it and most of the other Chinese and Japanese coins of the period that I have. This one is from Japan, Edo period I am told... I just really like the design on what I think is the reverse, what looks kinda like hills or waves. I haven't seen this design on many, and just think it looks pretty neat. This is what I was told it was on here a while back: Japan - Edo Period 'Bun Kyu Ei Ho' 4 mon, c.1863
