I found out a few minutes ago that I won this, at the opening bid. I was blown way out of the water on everything (even after a scary moment when I accidentally bid $900 on a Qi knife ). Some good deals were to be had, but half of the coins in the collection were fakes, so I did not bid as strongly as I would have on the unpictured lots (if I could afford to, that is). This was by far my least expensive target, and my only win. I have never seen anything like it, and I doubt I will see another one again outside of a museum. I felt it would go nicely with my molds and casting flue. Ancient China, Wang Mang' Xin ("New") Dynasty (7-22 AD) Huo Quan (14-25 AD) Four cast together in a row, still connected by sprues. Hartill #: (left to right) H-9.40, H-9.32, H-9.34, H-9.34 Ex: Noble Numismatics Sale 114 Lot 4462, Patrick O'Rourke Collection, Colonial Rare Coins, Queensland July 1995 I find it quite intriguing how there are multiple varieties exhibited in this specimen. I would have thought that the impressions in the mold would have all been consistent, but apparently that was not the case. It does not look like the coins were cemented together. Input from your experience with molds? @Ken Dorney
Need to see the molds and casting flue! Awesome score man, and I'm glad you didn't have to eat the $900 knife! (Unless you could have) I don't have anything to share...even being creative. You mentioned lots of fakes in the auction. Does that not give you pause to the authenticity of this piece? I only ask out of curiosity not because I suspect it's a fake.
WOW, FANTASTIC! Great capture! Hey, I got this cool piece not too long ago from a purdy cool guy I know... That hand is a dead give away! China Wu Zhu coin clay mold unearthed in SanMenXia City in HeNan Province full obverse impression partial second impression probly H-8.6 110-90 BCE
Here you go! Obverse: Reverse with convex bulge used for mating the halves together: Flue I would not have been able to pay. The bidding platform glitched, so I would have had a valid argument to try to defer my win. The bid was at $220, and it finally updated to $900 (correct to the pre-bids; I had guessed those bids were withdrawn) mid-click on the bid button. Sold for $1800, so I did not have to worry long. I did question this piece. But it has a good provenance and the style/patina look correct.
