The gift of a Wang Mang

My receptionist is of Chinese descent. I showed her my ancient Chinese coins recently and she was blown away by them, so much so that she can't stop talking about ancient coins now. I fear I might have awaken the numismatics bug in her. So I got her the gift of a Wang Mang. Can't think of a better Emperor to gift away...as he was quite a colorful character.

So here she is before I give her away to her new home. Feel free to post any coins you want.


Xin Dynasty, Emperor Wang Mang, 7 - 23 AD
AE 5 Zhu, 24mm, 3.28 grams
Obverse: HUO QUAN. Double inner rim.
Reverse: Blank, as made.
Hartill9.34
From his complex and unpopular monetary reform, which included denominations of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 50, 500 and 1,000 Zhu. These coins were largely similar in weight and appearance, and were difficult to use. It also explains why so many people hoarded earlier currency to use rather than the current official token coinage.

 

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Nice coin and great gesture @Sallent. It's also nice to see you posting again. Haven't seen you around in a while.

 

I check the forums regularly, but I've been busy with work and also with building models of rockets and other space-related subjects in the evenings (quite a relaxing hobby). Here is a Lego Saturn V that I just finished for my son.

"That's one small step for Lego, one giant leap for Lego kind."

 

You can never go wrong with Wang Mang!

 

I have a few Wang Mang... nice looking AE's everyone!


China Wang Mang 14-22 CE FSR 125


China Wang Mang 7-23 CE Hsin AE Cash Xiao Quan Zhi Yi H 9.14


China Wang Mang 7-23 CE Xin Dyn AE 5 Zhu 23mm Huo Quan H 9.43


China Wang Mang 14-22 CE FSR 124


China Wang Mang 14-22 CE FSR 155 H 9.34


China Wang Mang 14-22 CE FSR 150


China Wang Mang 14-22 CE Huo Chuan FSR 149


China Wang Mang 7-27 CE AE 5 Zhu Xin Dynasty - Emperor 5 Zhu stroke to lower left

 

I gave a friend of mine a Qianlong coin as well. He did an XRF test on it (it is brass, like any other coi, and listed the closest match on a modern copper alloy scale. The only difference in the two was that the coin has more lead!

 

Wow that draft did not save at all. What I meant to say was that he did an XRF test on it (it is brass, like any other cash coin after the 16th century), listed its phase diagram, and compared it to the closest match on a modern alloy specifications chart. The only difference is that the coin has more lead. The modern alloy is even used for ornamental castings!

 

A few photos in this thread are upside down. Let's see who can spot them!

 

I have a small hoard of Wang Mang that I enjoy very much. Some crusty, a few quite nice. Sorry, no photos...yet.

 

Agree! I have given away cash including Wang Mang for exactly that reason but I wonder one thing. Is it possible that these are actually very rare coins but each has been given away so many times that we think they are common? I suspect some recipients can not understand why anyone would part with such a wonderful treasure.

 

Bought this set in China for $9,99 incl shipment



and bought this Lady Cash figurine on a local site for 10 euro

 

I have, I think, a Wang Mang cash. But I bought it cheaply on eBay, and I don't know how to tell if it is genuine or a modern fake. What do you look for? It is 24 mm wide, c. 1 mm thick, fairly "crusty," and has three small pinholes, which the seller claimed were original casting holes. (Did I get it right side up?)

 

Thanks!

 

You did pretty good on the attribution, however, this particular type (though originally issued by Wang Mang) are now thought to be funerary coins produced specifically for burial. They are distinguished from the official issues by their reduced size and weight and crudeness of casting (thus the holes in your example). The most recent attribution has them as Eastern Han, minted between 25 and 75 AD. Gratzer and Fishman have them rated as 'scarce' to 'rare' though at the moment they are plentiful and more easily obtained than an official mint issue.

And oh. You got the alignment correct!

 

Thank you! That's really great information on this!

 

Its one of the BP cards with free tokens inserted , wich were given by the BP gasstations with every fill up. awoke my interest in ancient coins when I was a kid.