I found this in a junk tray. I'm not sure if its writing or just some sort of design. It weighs 1.5g and is 19mm. Its got a lot of rust on it, but appears to be bronze underneath. I just cant make anything out of it, and there doesn't seem to be any other identifying marks on it. I'm guessing it might be a stamped coin/token. With my luck, its probably a button or something similar...lol. Any assistance or suggestions in identifying it is appreciated. Thanks for taking a look.....Bill
looks like a chinese good luck token, which is made to imitate a cash coin it has most probably been attached to something in the past hence the pattern on one side. quite worthless actually
I was reading a book of late that had some of these in it. I am not sure if it is the same or not but it was called a vault protector?
Thanks for the replies. Does anyone know if this is chinese writing on the coin/token, or just a design? The suggestion that it may have been attached to something seems right since the reverse appears to have some sort of stuff on the back that could have been glue or even some type of solder. Are those chop marks on the rim of the obverse? What are chop marks and what are they used for anyway. What ever it is, its interesting...Thanks Bill
Difficult to read, it needs to be rotated 45 degrees counter clockwise to be in a readable position. Rotate & try again.
It's a modern reproduction of a Chinese Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty cash coin. It is modeled after the jia qing tong bao coin cast during the reign (1796-1820) of Emperor Ren Zong. You may compare it to an authentic jia qing tong bao coin here. Gary
I'm worthless at reading these but it looks like a Qing (Ch'ing, Manchu) cash of the 17-19th century or a copy of one. If that is correct, the full ID would require reading symbols on the reverse missing here. The characters at top and bottom would name the period. At right and left are Tung Pao or, roughly, 'Coinage of'. My best guess is Emperor Jen Tsung reign title Chai-Ch'ing 1796-1820 AD but I'm in no way qualified to separate out rarities based on script style or fakes done in modern hand. http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/china8.htm#chai%20ching The coin could be a decorative copy or a much abused genuine coin but any value would require the reverse which is absent here and even in great shape, the common ones are cheap items. In its present condition, I would place the value at little above melt.
OH Well, I expected nothing from a junk box. Looking over the Chinese cash coins of 1700's and 1800's, I find several that look very similar in Design, so I guess the question as to whether its chinese or decoration is answered. It appears to be chinese language. However, none of the coins is an exact match, the problem being the bottom writing which I was unable to match to anything. And as you so aptly pointed out, having the reverse missing makes it a moot point. Anyway, its worthless whatever it is. Maybe someone was trying to make a counterfeit, although I believe the suggestion that perhaps it was attached to something is probably the right answer for the mess on the reverse which appears to be some sort of adhesive...Thanks for all your input...I'll just put it aside for awhile until I decide what to do with it......Regards, Bill
