It's certainly a puzzler, and certainly not an official coin. But exactly what it is, I am uncertain.
I believe the reverse inscription is "er zhi" or "two zhi". "Zhi" can mean control, rule, or cure, depending on context. As far as I can tell, "zhi" was never a slang term for "10 cents", so I don't think it's actually supposed to be a denomination. Two governments? Two cures? I'm not culturally aware enough to translate it properly. I'm also unsure of what the basket-like object on the obverse is - perhaps an incense-burner?
Considering the context of the war-torn nature of China in 1940 (the date on the coin), perhaps some kind of anti-Japanese token? By 1940, much of China's population was under Japanese occupation, with the ROC government, in uneasy alliance with the Communists, essentially being reduced to a guerrilla army. Perhaps the "two zhi" are a reference to the KMT-Communist alliance? But I'm really just guessing here.
I believe the reverse inscription is "er zhi" or "two zhi". "Zhi" can mean control, rule, or cure, depending on context. As far as I can tell, "zhi" was never a slang term for "10 cents", so I don't think it's actually supposed to be a denomination. Two governments? Two cures? I'm not culturally aware enough to translate it properly. I'm also unsure of what the basket-like object on the obverse is - perhaps an incense-burner?
Considering the context of the war-torn nature of China in 1940 (the date on the coin), perhaps some kind of anti-Japanese token? By 1940, much of China's population was under Japanese occupation, with the ROC government, in uneasy alliance with the Communists, essentially being reduced to a guerrilla army. Perhaps the "two zhi" are a reference to the KMT-Communist alliance? But I'm really just guessing here.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis