Hello Everyone, I have had this coin for many years, but until a few days ago I knew nothing about it or its worth. Here is all the information that I found about this coin. Please let me know if it is right and how much it may be worth. This coin is from the Qing Dynasty, under Emperor Xian Feng. 1851-1861. The front of the coin reads Hsien Feng Chung Pao. The back reads: Top: Tang - "Equal To" Bottom: Wu-Shih - "50" Right: Manchu Ciowan - Board of Revenue, Peking (I Think) Left: Manchu Boo – coin In looking for Peking, China I found that there is no such thing. It turns out that back in the day words would be spelled differently and what we use to call Peking is really Beijing. It wasn’t until 1949 People's Republic of China, the government adopted the pinyin transliteration method and used this to write all of the proper names. However, the West has been using the old spelling long after it has been replaced in China. It is only sometime in the 1980s that China started to enforce its official name on all flights, sea routes and official documents. I have talk to local coin shops and search the Internet. I have found every match but the providence the coin was cast. The closest I have found was from this site: http://www.sportstune.com/chinese/coins/hsienfeng/50ciowan.html Check out the 48mm 49mm. That is the closest that I have found. Here are a few photos of the coin. Thank you for any information on this coin and what it may be worth.
Some info here, but not value http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/china8.htm#hsien feng (scroll down to Emperor Wen Tsung) Many copies and counterfeits have been made.
You have correctly identified this coin. It is a Xian Feng Zhong Bao, Value 50. It was cast at the Board of Revenue mint in Beijing (old spelling Peking). Beijing was the capital during the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays, the city of Beijing, being a very large city and the capital of the country, is not part of a province. It is a "direct-controlled municipality" and is an administrative unit to itself. Geographically, however, it is located in Hebei Province. I do not know what the market value of the coin is. In China, among Qing Dynasty coins, it would be considered "common". Gary
A bit more info: The coin looks to be Hartill 22.207 "Type M. Smaller size, diameter around 47mm, nominal weight 1 liang 2 qian, actual weight around 35 grams. Elegant flowing characters. March 1854-July 1855" Fou bao, seven stroke Bei Board of Revenue Mint, Beijing, West Branch. Hartill gives a scarcity rating of 12 (around US$15) but his book was published some years ago. I would expect to pay US$30-40 for a similar coin on eBay.
