I've just acquired a very nice looking Qian Long Tong Bao, not listed in Hartill, but in Jen ref 713. he lists it as 10 cash. The coin is 41.4-42.2mm diameter, 30.3 grams. Has anyone come across one of these coins? I assume they were produced as palace presentation pieces and not for circulation.
Dificult to tell as fake copies are made the same way as the original ones. A lot of these coins are used for house decor like windchimes, sword made from coins attached together with a red thread, etc. Chinese coins are essential ingredients in the practice of Feng Shui. It is the most potent symbol of wealth, especially when tied with red thread. They are rounded shape with a square hole in the center. The circle represents heaven while the square represents earth. When used by humans, they represent the cosmic trinity of luck of "Heaven-Earth-Man". There is the Yang side (with four chinese characters according to reign of emperor) and the Yin side (2 characters) on every chinese coins. The Yang side should always be used facing up. Feng Shui masters often focus only on Ching Dynasty coins compared to other dynasties because Ching was the most powerful dynasty in China, while other dynasties usually collapsed in less than a century. The Chinese coins, particularly of those of the Kang Hsi or Chien Long Emperors' reign are deemed most auspicious. Chinese coins are creation of old advisors of emperors (who are Grand Feng Shui wizards) and that is why chinese coins are powerful emblems of wealth, endless fortune and prosperity.
It IS a fake Based on the knowledgable comments I have received from Robert Kokotoilo from Calgary Coins, I have to accept, reluctantly, that my nice coin is a fake. Robert advises that the calligraphy is not correct for the period. The deciding factor is that the finishing file marks run around the coin rather than diagonally across it. Circular filing evidently did not come into use until the Xian Feng period. Anyone interested in Chinese coins should visit Calgary Coin's website. Their refernce guide is invaluable.
