Help on Some Coins from China (pictures)

Rodius

I received these today as part of a mixed lot and was wondering if anyone had some information on them. Are they silver? Just one has a date I can read.

I think they are very cool looking and I am going to stash them away.

I would appreciate any help you all can give on identifing the coins. Thanks so much

Regulated

They look like common fakes to me.

theboz11

Without closer pics it's hard to tell. They are commonly forged tho.

satootoko

My guess is that they are part of the vast horde of newly created late Imperial and early Republic coins pouring out of China as fast as the gullible EBayers can send their real money to Beijing and environs.

They all seem to have the thick rims so typical of these fakes.

Sapyx

Yup, sorry Rodius. These look like the earlier type of Chinese forgeries, sold to foreign tourists in the markets of China itself. I've got an example similar to the bottom left specimen, only with a dragon reverse. On mine, the "silver wash" (it's probably mercury, or something else that's a lot less safe than silver) is coming off, showing the brassy core, and the black "tarnish" looks like it was spray-painted on.

The top-left coin looks like a fantasy piece - I can't see any Chinese coins from the Empire or Republic that use AD dates, and dead emperors weren't commemorated during the Empire like that.

Genuine examples of the coins these are imitative of are worth around $100 each - and that value would probably be a lot higher if the plethora of fakes weren't chasing collectors away from Chinese coins generally. Originals should also weigh 26.4 to 26.8 grams - I'm pretty sure yours would come up considerably less than this. Mine weighs about 19 grams!

I'm told that in the Chinese tourist markets, if you complain that the coins are fake, the hawker will pull out a few much more realistic ones from under the counter, and offer them for a much higher price... these will be just as fake, only better quality.

Rodius

Thanks everyone for the help, they are very cool looking so I will keep them visable. They weight between 21.68 and 25.15 grams.

The mercury coating you spoke of, is that harmful to touch. They have a nice ring. I can see some of the brass coming through, and the black is very shiney just like paint. The surfaces are quite porious and grainy.

I agree fakes. Thanks again all for your help.

Rodney

Rodius

As a note on the lot, I purchased it for the Mexican coins and the US Coins. So I have learned what not to fall for in the future.

Thanks all

BlindedByEgo

<< <i>Thanks everyone for the help, they are very cool looking so I will keep them visable. They weight between 21.68 and 25.15 grams.

The mercury coating you spoke of, is that harmful to touch. They have a nice ring. I can see some of the brass coming through, and the black is very shiney just like paint. The surfaces are quite porious and grainy.

I agree fakes. Thanks again all for your help.

Rodney >>



Elemental Mercury is not particularly toxic, but chronic exposure can cause a buildup in the tissues - which can cause heavy metal poisoning.

I personally would not carry a pocket piece with an amalgamated surface of Mercury. Were I to do so, I would definitely cut down on my nose-picking.

shirohniichan

I personally would not carry a pocket piece with an amalgamated surface of Mercury. Were I to do so, I would definitely cut down on my nose-picking.

So mercury does have good uses.

I imagine all the Mexican and US coins you bought were cast counterfeits, also.

Rodius

Here is a picture of the lot I purchased. All of the world coins are circulated common date coins except for the 4 from china. All Us coins are mint produced.

I bought them from a board member so I trust they are all real.

Here is a picture of the lot



Thanks for everyones help.