Strange Asian Coin.

It is a Chinese cash coin.

The inscription reads zhi ping yuan bao which means it was cast during the years 1064-1067 of the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Another specimen may be seen here.

Gary

Yes, it's old, but not necessarily "strange". The only odd thing about it is the off-centred reverse. These coins were made by casting in moulds, rather than being struck like Western coinage, so such off-centring means the moulds were misaligned - not "scarce" or particularly extra valuable, but an interesting insight into the Chinese mint process.

My Jen catalogue (dating from about 2000) lists it as worth about a dollar. Maybe $5 or so with the "error"?

And yes, you can easily buy 1000 year old Chinese coins for just a dollar or two. Some of them were made in the billions and remain quite common.