| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,261 |
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
During the Sung Dyansty some coins were cast in iron. Over the centuries they have not held up very well so to find any in good condition is rare. Here are three from my collection, that as you can see are very difficult to attribute. They are 25mm and from 3.8 - 4.1 grams, circa 1111-1118.  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
I've seen these before and wondered about the 'iron' tag.
To me they are hard to ID in good condition, I'd really struggle with these. If I understand correctly cash were never made in silver?
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
From what I've read coins were made in all types of metal gold and silver also, though I've never seen any other th the large Tael type in silver. These are the only iron coins I've come across.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have only iron cash in my collection, of about 150 cash coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
I have only iron cash in my collection, of about 150 cash coins. Did you deliberately go after this metal type Sel? Info from Calgary Coin: Quote:
The earliest iron coins consisted of non-fiduciary 1/10 cash. Schjoth (page 28) records: "In the 2nd year of Ching-te (AD 1005) large iron coins were cast in the two localities of Chia-ting Fu and Chiung-chou in Szechuan, value one copper cash or ten small iron cash. These all circulated jointly and gave much satisfaction. Quote:
The large iron coins, of bronze 1 cash value, seem to be S-472 (10.83 grams, 35 mm). We believe the "small iron cash" valued at 1/10th of a copper cash are the well known iron issues of bronze cash size and weight which start with the T'ai-p'ing (S-462) issues of AD 976-984. This would explain a passage where Schjoth records Mr. Hu, in AD 978, paid for copying some sacred classics with 120 strings of iron money. Recording payment specifically in iron money would not be necessary unless iron and copper cash were valued differently. This establishes iron at about 1/10th the value of copper, a figure very important to understanding other iron issues. The larger iron coin (S-472), at about 11 grams, was fiduciary with only about 0.3 cash worth of iron. http://www.calgarycoin.com/referenc...a/china5.htm |
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Sel I would love to see some of yours. They are probabaly in better condition than these.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
iron, I had no clue... that is interesting ski. neato coins.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
More than 100 cash coins came my way in a job lot nearly 30 years ago. I paid $25 for the lot, and at that time, I hadn't clue what I was buying. Didn't worry too much, because if they were fake, and assuming that these are so common, I wasn't going to loose too much.
Later on, I managed to get a copy of Schjoth and identified them all. Patience and time were rewarded.
Fortunately for me, most dynasties and emperors are represented, so it appears that someone may have been trying to build a collection before me.
The iron cash which came separately and much later, is of Wen Tsung 1851 - 1862, Chili Province. I paid $10 for it knowing that these coins are also easily faked. If my memory serves me correctly, this coin came from Joel Anderson in California. I suspect that his business came by it as part of a large job lot.
As it turned out, I think they are all genuine, despite the varying degrees and types of patination.
I also have a zinc cash of the Nguyen Lords of Annam (Vietnam) Thien Minh 1739 - 66. This piece also came from Joel Anderson, and I have taken his attribution for it, which is roughly correct with my I.D. for the coin. Krause (1701-1800), offers some information as well as Schjoth.
It is somewhat of a miracle that a zinc coin from this tropical climate should have survived for so long, and as such, I would imagine that it may be very scarce.
Edited by sel_69l
02/20/2013 11:29 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
These are fun. Here's about a hundred Sung iron cash I have in my "to do" pile.  |
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 1,261 |
|
Posted 02/20/2013 3:21 pm
