I recently ran across a group of Chinese Cash coins I must have had for years. The large one is 34 mm in diameter and the 2 thick ones are at least 3 time the thickness of normal ones. As I don't know much at all about them they just sat in a box with other treasures' One good thing about all this is that also in the box was a small Zip Lock bag with 25 or so Ancients mostly in pretty good shape. I'll try to get some pics of a few posted soon. Sadly, I know about as much about them as I do the Cash Coins. Regards, Mike
The two very thick pieces are not official coins, they seem to be some sort of amulet or charm. In the third picture, the piece on the right is also not a coin; I think it is upside down, and depicts a horse and a person on the ground (?). In the third picture, the first coin (largest diameter) is upside down. Looking at it right-side up, the inscription seems to be Xian Tong Zhong Bao (Heavy Coin of Xian Tong period). However, I'm still confused. While there was a Xian Tong period (860-874), Hartill lists just one, extremely rare coin (Rarity 1, $5,000) for Xian Tong (14.135), and it isn't a Heavy Coin but rather has the odd inscription Xuan Bao (Dark Currency). Either I'm confused, this coin isn't really Chinese, or possibly both The middle coin in the third picture is much better behaved. The inscription is Chong Ning Zhong Bao (Heavy Coin of Chong Ning period) (1102-1106), probably Hartill 16.405 based on the small diameter (varieties exist with larger sizes). This is a common coin (Hartill rarity 14 (Very Common), price estimate $5). In the final photo, the thin coin (upside-down) is Guang Xu Tong Bao (Current Coin of Guang Xu period) (1875-1908). There are many varieties of this, most common, based largely on the reverse which gives the mintmark. (The range in Hartill's catalogue should be somewhere between 22-1275- 22.1509.) Can't tell more without seeing the reverse. Hope this helps. If you post photos of your ancients, be sure to put them in the Ancients forum of this site.
I really appreciate the input about my cash coins. I did find one that is sort of square with rounded corners. It's magnetic so it's some kind of iron and it's 20 mm wide. I was wondering if it's a real coin or something else? Any info would be appreciated. Regards, Mike.
It says "仙臺通寶" (Sendai Currency in traditional Japanese script. 仙台通宝 in modern Japanese) Sendai is a city in Northeast Honshu, Mutsu Province, Japan. Here's the reference from Hartill's "Early Japanese Coins," p. 76. They are supposed to be of iron, and were made in great numbers, so it might be real. Tenmei Year 4-7 = 1784-87
I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. So, if any of the items I've posted here are of interest to you just let me know and I will send them to you as a sort of thank you. Mike
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm happy to help in part just to educate myself. If I have the book, it's good to have the chance to use it!
I agree with @The Eidolon , I enjoy helping people here and sharing whatever information I can. If you have any more, please post here so we can have fun trying to ID them!
Here's a few of then. Hopefully you can see the detail well enough to ID them. I probably have at least 200. Regards, Mike
To start with, almost all of your coins (with 3 exceptions) appear to be Chinese, and from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). For these coins, I'd need to see both sides to fully identify (one sides gives the Emperor's reign title, the other gives the mintmark). Here's what I can tell from your photos: A. Japan, Bunkyu Eiho (Eternal Treasure of the Bunkyu Era), issued 1863-1868. It had a value of 4 cash. The reverse should show a pattern of 11 waves. Hartill (Japan) 5.19. B. China, can't make out details. C. China, Board of Works mint. D. Korea. Treasury Department mint. This variety is from 1757-1806. Mandel 13.21.7. E. China, can't make out details. F. China (?), can't make out details. G. China, Qianlong (1736-1795). H. China, Qianlong (1736-1795). I. Korea, Charity Office in Seoul. Value 2 coin. 1695-1742.Mandel 17.15B.0. J. This was once a coin... K. China, Qianlong (1736-1795). L. China, Kangxi (1662-1722). M. China, Qianlong (1736-1795). N. China, Xianfeng (1851-1861). O. China, Board of Revenue mint. P. China, Guangxi (1875-1908), this looks like one of the machine-struck coins from Guangdong Province mint. None of these types seem to be rare or particularly valuable (unless there's some rare varieties based on the other sides). Hope this helps.
I would say...as of these times...that the Korean example (I) may not be rare, but of some value...Collecting and valuation has changed much in the past 20 years (ie:2000 AD). What we in the "West" considered common or of low value has changed dramatically in the East. In my humblest opinion, these examples are worth considering as are all coinage in this new age of electronic crediting...
