The photo shows an item listed on eBay as china, silver coin sample, 30grams,50mm? There is some very strange spelling on the rim part, but the coin itself looks OK. Has anyone seen a similar item? cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=350192837225
HK Maybe ? Its a sample of course but with English (sort -of !) on the coin I would have thought the best bet is that its a Victorian sample from Hong Kong. But thats just a guess ( a mandarin speaker would probably be more helpful) The other option is that its from Shanghai as that was an English speaking area too... Keith
Your piece is one of many Chinese fantasy pieces consisting of copies of real coins from various nations, surrounded by a collar with the strangely spelled inscription. Spinks recently tried unsuccessfully to auction a group of 18, including a Mexican 8 reales. I've seen versions based on US Trade Dollars, Japanese Yen, and Chinese national and provincial issues.
Fantasy Chinese Coins When I visited Badaling on the Great Wall of China I was offered loads of coins in the little market there (I would guess they have been selling them to tourists for years and years !) As my interests lie more in the direction of the Knights Templar I politely declined... Oh they did have an annoying habit though - I have a largish nose and everyone wanted a go at ensuring it is real ! (by pressing it ...) Keith
