Chinese gold "boat money"

Cuprinkor

What time period were these produced?

Was told back in the 1990's that these were placed over the eyes of a deceased infant prior to burial (?)

anthonythecoinman

Woah! Do you mean, sycee? That is, gift sycee?

Cuprinkor

Maybe. When were sycees made?
Thanks.

Sapyx

Sycees were made throughout the Imperial period (up to AD 1911), but began to be replaced with regular gold coins during the Republic period.

Imitation gold sycee are popular Chinese New Year decorations, but usually aren't made from real gold. Gold sycee also feature in funeral traditions, but these also are not made from real gold and are made from gold-coloured paper, intending to be burned.

I'm not aware of any Chinese tradition involving burial of real gold with infants; that sounds like an invitation to have your child's grave robbed. And the "placing on the eyes" part sounds like a conflation with the ancient Greek tradition of burying someone with two coins on their eyes, to pay the ferryman across the River Styx.

Cuprinkor

Interesting info. Thanks for your input.