Posted 05/24/2013 12:30 am
Quote:
My friend recently got back from New York and they gave me these Chinese coins they picked up in Chinatown. I know nothing about Chinese coins so anything you could tell me about these would be great. Just from looking them over I am most certain they are counterfeits, but I don't know which coins they are counterfeit of.
My friend recently got back from New York and they gave me these Chinese coins they picked up in Chinatown. I know nothing about Chinese coins so anything you could tell me about these would be great. Just from looking them over I am most certain they are counterfeits, but I don't know which coins they are counterfeit of.
Your instincts are correct.
The first "coin" is actually a "charm". The Chinese reads xuan tong tong bao which was the inscription used on the coins issued by "The Last Emperor" of the Qing Dynasty.
I am unable to identify any of the symbols on the reverse side.
Actually, I do not recall ever seeing a charm based on a xuan tong tong bao coin.
I doubt that most Chinese would consider a charm based on a coin from "The Last Emperor" to be "lucky".
Despite its appearance, I do not believe this charm is "old" but of modern production.
The second coin is a reproduction of a rare one tael silver coin struck in 1884 at the Jilin mint. An authentic coin would be worth several hundred thousand US dollars.
The third "coin" is part of a set of 12 coins commemorating the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. These are souvenir pieces and are not circulating coins. Your "coin" commemorates the Guangxu Emperor who reigned during the years 1875-1908.
The last coin is a poorly-made reproduction of a "50 cent" silver coin made by the Military Government of Sichuan in 1912.
Gary
