Chinese Bronze - Qian Long (1736-1796)

Quite right - it's alternate spelling. "Qian long" is the modern, Pinyin means of expressing the top and bottom Chinese characters on the obverse. The old Wade-Giles romanization of these same two characters is "ch'ien lung".

The Qian Long emperor announced his intention to abdicate in 1795, abdicated in early 1796, and died in 1799.

These coins were made by the millions, and are commonly found in the "Chinese Cash Coins $2 each" bowl many coin dealers seem to have. Often found alongside them are poorly made modern imitations, made for use as good luck charms. Yours looks genuine enough from what I can see in the pics - these coins are far too common for counterfeiters to go to too much trouble making their fakes look authentic like that.

Grading Chinese cash coins is different to grading modern style coins. These coins weren't struck between dies like Western-style coins are; they were cast in sand moulds, then they had their rims and high points polished flat. This method of manufacture means the low points and the nooks and crannies in between the strokes of the characters always look muddy or sandy like that.

I'd grade this one a good Fine - the details of the characters seem clear enough, but there looks to be a touch of corrosion on the rims that preclude it getting promoted to VF.