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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;manymore, post: 736248, member: 17118&quot;]The first coin is indeed a <i>wu zhu</i> as proposed by Ardatirion.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you look at the second image very closely, you can just make out the <i>wu</i> (shaped like an hourglass) located at the right of the hole, and the <i>zhu</i> located at the left of the hole.</p><p><br /></p><p>The images are not very good, but the lack of outside/inside rims, the size, the weak casting of the inscription, and the poor quality of the bronze all indicate that the coin is from the Eastern Han (25-220 AD) or, probably, later.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Wu zhu</i> coins were cast by various dynasties, states and kingdoms up to the beginning (618 AD) of the Tang Dynasty.&nbsp; It is almost impossible, however, to identify exactly where and when many of these varieties were cast.</p><p><br /></p><p>The <i>wu zhu</i> was thus used for more than 700 years making it the longest used coin in Chinese history.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you have an interest and would like more information, I have a web page on <a href="http://primaltrek.com/charmcoins.html#wu_zhu_coins" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/charmcoins.html#wu_zhu_coins" rel="nofollow">wu zhu coins</a> that introduces a number of varieties, including some similar to yours.&nbsp; Additionally, all the specimens display &quot;special characteristics&quot; such as dots (stars), circles (suns), numbers, rod numbers, lines, characters and symbols.</p><p><br /></p><p>Gary[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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