Silver coins of the Chinese Province of Kwang Tung are relatively common in lower grades, where they are less attractive to the counterfeiters.
I don't mind buying coins in this area, if the price is right. If you are caught out by a good fake it won't cost you too much. If subsequently proven to be a fake, I would happily add it to my 'black collection' for intensive study, for my own education. Pain is a very efficient teacher.
Chinese silver coinage is a fascinating area of numismatics, well worth it for studying and collecting.
If you wish to collect Chinese silver (I have about 20 examples), stick to the common ones in lower grades, where you are less likely to get stung.
Your coin, if genuine, is a 10 cent piece and has a weight of 7.2 candareens.
According to my copy of
'Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold &n Silver coins', by Lin Gwo Ming, publ.Taisei Stamps & Coins (HK) Ltd.,
Gives a value of
$HK3 in F,
$HK5 in VF,
$HK15 in XF
$HK50 in AU, and
$HK100 in Unc.
There are some quite rare varieties and sub types of these, valued at $HK thousands on the HK market, but I have only read about them, and would be an obvious target for the forgers.
Period.
Posted 06/11/2012 9:43 pm
