Hi guys, a friend gave me this coin a while ago and I've got no idea what it is. The ageing on it almost looks fake to me but I'm not sure. If it is real, this will be my first Chinese coin and I recently bought 20 old copper Chinese coins for dirt cheap that are being cleaned up at the moment (will be asking about those ones too later on ). I'm thinking its made of brass but again, I'm not sure. Here's the picture, anyone able to give me some info on it?
Obverse: Jia Qing tong bao Reverse: Boo guwang Emperor Ren Zong 1796-1820 Guangzhou, Guangdong mint, Board of Revenue type Hartill 22.505 a common coin I really have no idea how to tell a fake from a photo. I have enough trouble with the things in hand. Many uncleaned cash you see are a lot older than this so it is not a surprise if it looks different than the ones you have being cleaned.
Thanks a lot, didn't expect to get so much info on it so quickly I'll remain skeptical but at least I can use the information to try find out if its even real.
I see nothing that suggests the coin is fake, they were made in huge numbers and the coin was likely cleaned late in the 20th century.
Thanks. Yeah, I've done a bit of research and the coin is only worth around 2 or 3 bucks. I think it's safe to assume that its real value wouldn't even be worth faking.
That is no guarantee - I saw modern fakes of very common early 20th century Chinese cash coins for sale in China. The difference is that the real ones were cast, the modern fakes are stamped out.
Thanks, I hope it isn't. I'm almost 100% sure the other coins I've got cleaning up aren't fake though, they look very genuine under the crustiness.
I agree, nothing to hint its a fake. However, I also agree there is never a guarantee. I have seen fake cast coins of the Ching dynasty. Even if it only is worth $.50 in bulk, if the counterfeiter can make them for $.05, that is a pretty good profit in china. Your coin, though, has the correct shen, which is where most counterfeiters mess up.
