Chinese cash or token? Another one added below.

tbirde56

If I've seen this one before it's been so long ago that I can't remeber it yet it seems familiar somehow. Anyone know anything about it?

shirohniichan

It looks like a token.

I guess "Kokuji tsuuhou" means "national government currency." I have no idea what the 1862-1874 is supposed to mean.

The character for "country" is written in post WWII Japanese script, not traditional or post-Revolution simplied Chinese.

tbirde56

Thanks Shiro!!

Numismatics

That is not a coin for sure.

Numismatics

After a quick research, I found out that the 1862 to 1874 is the years which Tong Zhi was the King of China.

shirohniichan

I'm not sure I'm reading the inscription properly, but I think the top character is this one.

Numismatics

<< <i>I'm not sure I'm reading the inscription properly, but I think the top character is this one. >>



The top character is not the one that you pointed out. It is this one


Here is a picture of the same obverse.

shirohniichan

If that it "doh" (meaning "same"), then it is a modern copy of a Tong Zhi (or "Doh Ji" if pronounced in Japanese).

sumnom

This is a souvenir piece, neither coin nor token. I have seen them in vats in tourist stores in the San Francisco Chinatown and in Seattle's International District. They also come in plastic coated sets, one for each reign.

tbirde56

Thanks guys!

tbirde56

Here's another mystery piece for you guys:


Original thread

shirohniichan

I wish I knew Chinese in order to write the correct pronunciation of the characters, but here is the transciption into Japanese:

2 fun
Sen Tou Nen Zou
5 Mai Kaku Gin Hei Ikkaku

Translation:
2 Fen
Made in Year of Sen Tou
5 per Silver 1 Chiao

The other side says "Dai Shin Dou Hei" (Great Shin Copper Currency).

sumnom

Tbirdie, if that is real you have something quite nice, a late Qing pattern, no less...


Pn18 (copper)/Pn19 (bronze)

1910 2 fen

My 1998 Krause says 1000.00, if that is meaningful.


Shiroh's translation is just about on the mark but I will make some adjustments:

"Made during the Xuantong era" - The Xuantong era was the reign of the last emperor, 1909-1911.

"Five pieces [can be] exchanged [for] one jiao [of] silver currency"

"Great Qing [Empire] Copper Currency"

Shiroh is right that the the legend literally reads "Year of Xuantong" but here this refers not to a particalar year but to any year within the Xuantong reign period.

sumnom

In comparing your image to the Krause image, I would say your piece is suspect. Aside from differences in calligraphy, there are some very large discrepencies in the dragons wreaths. I would say this piece is guilty until proven innocent.

susanlynn9

Thanks for posting it, Brad.

The coin is actually mine. I suspect it is counterfeit. Is there any way to tell for sure?

sumnom

You would need a better source than Krause. Just going ion th epicture in Krause, I would say this is a fake but there could be design variations.