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Message:: [QUOTE="manymore, post: 980570, member: 17118"]As hontonai has already recommended, rotate the first image 90 degrees clockwise so that the Chinese characters are in a horizontal line. The inscription is then read left to right as ba xian tu which translates as "Pictures of the Eight Immortals". Rotate the second image 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that the Chinese characters are in a vertical line along the left side. The inscription is read top to bottom as he xian gu.  He Xiangu is one of the Chinese Daoist "Eight Immortals".  With the "coin" now properly oriented you will see her image to the right of the inscription. I have a brief description of each of the "Eight Immortals" at <a href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#eight_immortals" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html#eight_immortals" rel="nofollow">this link</a> with He Xiangu being number "5". Your "coin" is some kind of commemorative piece of modern vintage and would not circulate as money.  Presumably, it is one piece of a set of eight with one "coin" for each of the "Eight Immortals".  Your first image is probably the same on all eight coins. I would guess that these "coins" were produced in large numbers and that there is no special intrinsic value in the metal. Many people find Daoism (Taoism) and Daoist charms really interesting.  I discuss a number of the old charms at <a href="http://primaltrek.com/daoist.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://primaltrek.com/daoist.html" rel="nofollow">Daoist Charms</a>. Gary[/QUOTE]

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