Calling all Cast Chinese coin experts!

historygeek

Fake or real?
ebay

earlwbollinger

Now that's a hard call.
Nowadays, they can cast the coins in a similar manner to the originals.
Then hand file them down, polish them a little, then bury them in a dung heap for a while to age them nicely.
Since there could be a lot of variation, even weighing won't work well.
I can only think a chemical composition analysis might be the only way.
Anyway, it does look like a nice coin though.
Shipping from China is usually a killer cost too.

sumnom

This one is tough but I would be a little wary of the uneven patinization. What do you think HG?

satootoko

Something about it just doesn't look right.

It sure isn't 2.9mm, as advertised; and 2.9cm seems to be pretty much oversize for 1 cash, but undersize for multiple cash.

Obviously I also share Sumnom's concern about the patina.

historygeek

earlwbollinger:

<<<Since there could be a lot of variation, even weighing won't work well.>>>

Yes, the weight of cast Chinese coins generally vary + or - 20% because of the casting process. That is, impressing seed cash into wet sand and pouring molten metal into the void (this is the short version of it). Thus, the depth of the mold and eventually the weight of the coin cannot be controlled.

Sumnom:

<<<This one is tough but I would be a little wary of the uneven patinization. What do you think HG?>>>

I am more worryed by the fact that there is no patinization in the spaces in the characters, but I have taken a look at other dealer's coins and they look similar.

satootoko:

<<<It sure isn't 2.9mm, as advertised; and 2.9cm seems to be pretty much oversize for 1 cash, but undersize for multiple cash. >>>


I have checked a catalogue an the size is correct for this type of coin. Notice the character for heavy on the right side.

To me, if the coin is real it looks like it might have been cleaned via electrolysis.

hamiltonjh

physically it looks old, but the characters dont look right to me. There is NO wear on them at all, from the pic, and they look to perfect. Hard to explain...but, something just doesnt look right to me.

Conder101

<< <i>2.9cm seems to be pretty much oversize for 1 cash, >>


Not really, thats just 1.1 inches and 1 cash coins vary is size a significant amount. I do agree thaough that something does NOT look right about this coin.

Askari

The "patina" looks like it was achieved with heat, not age.

sumnom

Well you know, Askari, it can get pretty hot in some parts of China.

Askari

Blowtorch hot?