Found this in some coins that came from G-Grandfather? and yes, it is cleaned, it's not for sale, but rather something to pass down to my grandson?
Nice coin! The new standard reference from Krause is by DAVID JEN. You would have to read the ideograms. Generally, if you read them one way (right to left), it is the name of the emperor and the other way (up and down) is the name of his reign. (Like FDR and "New Deal.") On the reverse, the scribbles are "Manchus." The story (not true) is that the Emperess visited the imperial mint on an inspection and idly ran her long fingernails over a mold. Not wanted to insult her, they made that part of the design. In truth, the Manchurian script is another kind of writing. It identifes the mint. Billions upon billions of these copper cash were made in the imperial mints and millions more were counterfeited by simply casting. People carried strings of them. They were tallied by the One Hundred for easy buying and selling. Merchants did use "sychee" cast silver, but most people were limited to these brass coins, whether to buy a bowl of rice or a horse. Unless you can attribute something rare about it, it is a coin to be passed down in your family as a memento of your Great^n Grandfather.
You have a standard cash coin issued in the Kiangsu Province, under the reign of Emperor Kao Tsung (regnal title of Ch'ien Lung, 1736-1795).
Thanks to you both . My Grandson will certainly have plenty to learn, and this will be of great help for him, I have some pretty neat coins, and there will be much more, Garrett is only 2 getting close to 3, and is going to have to learn a little discipline before he get's much anything, Found where he got a ink pen and decided to scribble on his G-Grandmothers new Laptop screen, damp tissue took care of it for the most part, But, he and i shall have a long chat someday about coins. and the privilage of Inheritence and Family and values. Thanks, very much
