Anybody with Chinese coin knowledge?

[DrDave]

I was at an auction a few days back, and there was a small bag of Chinese coins up for grabs which nobody seemed interested in (probably for a good reason!).

I'm not under the illusion that this will have any value, but i bought them because i thought they'd be nice to photograph and try to discover the history, age etc.

I've had a brief look but not identified it as yet. 

Anybody know anything about Chinese coins??

This one is 35mm diameter, 2.2mm thick and weighs 12.7g

 

[DrDave]

Anybody?

[Arganto]

I don't like Wikipedia usually but for this sort of thing it's useful. Some basic info before I have a dig for specifics;

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_(Chinese_coin)

Edited October 3, 2022 by Arganto
Autocorrect

[Arganto]

https://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/china7.htm

[Arganto]

Have a look through those, the symbols match in some cases. Due to the very good condition and strike of yours I'd be leaning toward them being replicas, buuut I am learning about these coins as I look them up so it could just be that you have excellent examples?

[DrDave]

1 minute ago, Arganto said:

Have a look through those, the symbols match in some cases. Due to the very good condition and strike of yours I'd be leaning toward them being replicas, buuut I am learning about these coins as I look them up so it could just be that you have excellent examples?

I've been told that its a  qian de yuan bao from around AD919. 

The dimensions are the same as mine, so im inclined to thnk (hope) that its real, but its still only a few quids worth!

[Arganto]

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces20616.html

 

You're probably right, very cool. Not everything needs a high £ value to be worth holding onto. The use and history that goes along with that sort of thing is incredible. Nice find bud, plus I learned about a type of coin I'd not come across before which is cool.

I feel you were slightly more cunning than a cunning fox on cunning day during a period of exemplary cunning however, as you already knew what it was 🤣

[DrDave]

2 minutes ago, Arganto said:

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces20616.html

 

I feel you were slightly more cunning than a cunning fox on cunning day during a period of exemplary cunning however, as you already knew what it was 🤣

No, not at all. Somebody on Facebook just told me. I'd already worked out Yuan Bao and he filled in the blanks. Then i found one of ebay for $58 (although one sold for $0.99 plus post recently too!)

I think i'll keep it anyway. I don't own anything thats over a 1000 years old!

[Arganto]

I would wager that most don't. I wonder what it it was used for last before ending up stashed away...yours in great condition 👍🏻

[DrDave]

5 minutes ago, Arganto said:

I would wager that most don't. I wonder what it it was used for last before ending up stashed away...yours in great condition 👍🏻

I bought these from an auction. 7 for £20, but at worst £20 worth of fun and pretending to be Sherlock Holmes!

There were lots of quality coins from a collector and he had these too, so i'm assuming he knew what he was holding.