I purchased a few Korean cash coins from an eBay seller located in Singapore. I've been keeping any eye out for just one example of a coin from this era for well over a year. This seller popped up suddenly with several unusually high quality examples. I was a bit unsure of the authenticity prior to purchasing based on the quality alone. Just seemed a little too good for coins that are supposed to be 1000 years old. Upon closer inspection after receiving the coins, I noticed a strange reflectivity in the bronze underneath the patina that I've not seen in the authentic cash coins I already have. My examples are limited, so maybe this is common, but I suspect forgeries. I'd love to be wrong. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I agree with your skepticism, although I don't collect this type. I did find an example sold by Calgary Coins, through VCoins, for comparison. I had a bad experience with a Singapore-based seller over two decades ago and I would be leery dealing with anyone from there, especially on eBay. Perhaps you could send Calgary images of your coins for an opinion? https://www.vcoins.com/en/stores/ca...1097__1_cash__hartill_2566/69836/Default.aspx Also, Wikipedia devotes a page on this coinage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goryeo_coinage
Thanks! I saw some other discussion about high-quality fakes from Singapore-based sellers. That example you linked to is more what I would expect one of these coins to look like. Contacting Calgary coin sounds like a good idea.
Yes, I think it wouldn't hurt to do that. That company has been around many years, and the fact that they are listed on VCoins is a good indication of a good reputation. You're right about the coins being too smooth, almost modern looking cast coins with applied patina in a rather spotty way.
I am afraid your suspicions are correct; these are without a doubt fake. Not only are they off style and fabric-wise, their patinas are applied and their calligraphy isn’t spot on. The Kai Yuan also does not match the style of imitation we think might have issued in Goryeo Korea, so isn’t even a forgery of a Korean coin, which he deceptively listed as such. The seller you’ve bought these from is exceptionally tricky. He does have some genuine stuff, but also one-eye-fakes of major rarities in cash coins (Yinping round coin, nine-fold Song cash, etc.) that sell for thousands if genuine. Yet for 50 usd you can buy his! Steer clear of him, unless youre buying slabbed moderns. His pictures make the patina seem more convincing and I have caught myself many a time having to take a second look at his listings. In bronze, the Tong guk reverse Qian Yuan is a 1000+ USD coin (I’ve only had an Iron example in my collection in a very mediocre quality, which I already count myself very lucky with) Wish I had better news! Hopefully you can get your money back!
Absolutely concur! The only comment I would add, is that it is clearly an amateurish attempt to replicate Hanja. The "Hanja" placement tried to mimic the Three Kingdoms period, and is more 'Manchurian" in presentation. It would be as if Zhou was trying to compile all 57 dialects on a coin, until it "looked right".
Since these cash coins were casted, would it be possible there were old counterfeits from around the same era?
Yes. Silla Period, the capital Gyeongju during the Unified Silla Period, and also Wang Geon did so, during a time of competing regional states and a breakdown of society prior to the advent of the Goryeo Dynasty. I have not come across anything during that Period, but then there are others here that would be much more familiar than me concerning that Dynasty Period.
Thanks so much everyone! This was very helpful and a learning experience for sure. eBay's refund policy should have me covered, but hopefully the seller just agrees to refund me so I don't have to file a claim. I'm going to link him to this thread. Curious if you have any sources for understanding this era a little better. My Googling has turned up very little beyond Wikipedia and a couple of other pages. My Korean is limited, but even Korean sites and keywords haven't turned up much for me.
