This coin could land me in Chinese prison back in the early 90s. Tiananmen Square Incident.

Rarity and historical significance does help push prices significantly. Especially the hunger within the mainland market for Chinese coins have created an explosion in prices.

 

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I only collected such coins as I am an avid collector of overstruck coins. I have been looking at Chinese overstruck coins for close to a good decade. I picked a couple up since they weren't that dear back then.

http://gxseries.com/numis/overstrike/world_overstrike.htm#China

Chinese overstruck coins actually are poorly understood.

Speaking of troubled coins, Uighurstan coins are also prime examples. Try finding a set of 10 and 20 cash coin - they can be surprisingly difficult!

 

I have another overstruck coin which is one of the very few of type which I actually collect.

This one would deter most people because it is a very common coin, heavily worn and crusted. However, notice the counter mark on it. This is the Soviet Chinese earliest coins when they did not have the resources and tech to mint their own coins. Thus they scoured heavily circulated common coins and stamped them to use within the territories under their control. It will be a couplenof years later before their first series of self struck coins are issued

 

I recall seeing a few of those countermark coins and had reservations of such coins. I saw a seller that offered a couple of them a while back. Only problem is he had a fair bit of counterfeits mixed in his wares so I had my doubts.

More information from Steve Album

https://db.stevealbum.com/php/chap_auc.php?site=1&lang=1&sale=16&chapter=23&page=1

For some reason I kept the Freedom dollar coins all over the place - this is the first time they have been together.

 

Yes there were counterfeits.. Thus best be safe before acquiring. mine was from a Steve Album.