Hi All, I'd appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction with these Chinese cash coins (some are quite large at 47mm, medium ones are 33mm). Years, denomination, etc would be great! Thanks
Just taking a quick look, the 2 with the Dragon and Phoenix are charms. Haven't attributed them to a time period though.
The only one I recognise as a coin and not some form of a charm is the smallest one, which is from the Board of Revenue mint in Beijing. It appears at first glance to be an earlier Ming dynasty piece but the Emperor's character is not familiar to me.
Exact diameter in millimeters will determine the precise date, but the small one is an issue of emperor Xuanzong from the Board of Revenue mint, cast either circa 1821-1823 or circa 1824-1850. The others are all either charms or fakes.
Regarding the Chinese charms: 1) The inscription on the charm at the top left is han xian xiang zi (韩仙湘子) which translates as the "Immortal Han Xiangzi". On the reverse side, Han Xiangzi is sitting to the right of the hole. His flute is at the left of the hole and a crane is above the hole. 2) The inscription on the charm at the bottom left is he shi xian gu (何氏仙姑) which translates as the "Immortal Woman He". On the reverse, the Immortal Woman He stands at the right of the hole. A lotus flower is at the left of the hole. 3) The inscription on the charm at the top right is chu ru ping an (出入平安) which translates as "May your coming and going be in peace". A dragon and phoenix are on the reverse. 4) The inscription on the charm at the middle right is han xian zhong li (汉仙钟离) which translates as the "Immortal Han Zhongli". The reverse shows Han Zhongli standing on a cloud on the right. His fan is shown on the left. 5) The inscription on the charm at the bottom right is jin yu man tang (金玉满堂) which translates as "May gold and jade fill your house". A dragon and phoenix are on the reverse. The immortals displayed on three of the charms are members of a famous group of Daoists known as the "Eight Immortals". All of your charms are modern reproductions. Gary
