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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;manymore, post: 2162279, member: 17118&quot;]It&#039;s a Chinese charm.</p><p><br /></p><p>The inscription near the rim reads <i>chang ming fu gui</i> (長命富貴) which translates as &quot;longevity, wealth and honor&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>The large Chinese character in the middle is <i>han</i> (漢) which refers to the ancient Han Dynasty or, more probably in this case, the Han nationality.&nbsp; The Chinese usually identify themselves as the Han nationality.</p><p><br /></p><p>The square in the middle with the <i>han</i> character inside is supposed to represent the center hole of an ancient Chinese coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Incidentally, the Chinese characters are written in a very unusual style.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is a five-clawed &quot;coiled <a href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#dragon" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#dragon" rel="nofollow">dragon</a>&quot; on the reverse side.&nbsp; Five-clawed dragons represented the emperor during imperial times.</p><p><br /></p><p>A <a href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#pearl" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#pearl" rel="nofollow">flaming pearl</a> is shown below the dragon&#039;s mouth.&nbsp; The dragon is surrounded by five <a href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#clouds" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#clouds" rel="nofollow">auspicious clouds</a>.&nbsp; The number five refers to the &quot;<a href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#five_blessings" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#five_blessings" rel="nofollow">five blessings</a>&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most websites describe this piece as being produced during the Republican period (1912-1949).&nbsp; Some websites even mention that the piece was minted in Sichuan Province.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, these charms are fairly common and I have <u>never</u> seen one listed in a catalog.</p><p><br /></p><p>Since they are machine-made and look new, many collectors including myself think that these are &quot;modern&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>They can be purchased very inexpensively although some seem to be better-made and are perhaps older.&nbsp; These tend to sell for a little more money.</p><p><br /></p><p>A couple of the better specimens may be seen <a href="http://www.chengxuan.com/antiques/69659/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.chengxuan.com/antiques/69659/" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://auction.artxun.com/paimai-97504-487519448.shtml" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://auction.artxun.com/paimai-97504-487519448.shtml" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>Gary[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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