Chinese Coin Square Hole

So a tourist 'trinket' in other words . . .

Thanks for reply !

Thanks again, I will clean it up a bit.

I have a sense it might be 'real' as I found another chinese coin in same area a few days ago (so worn you can't read what I think is Ten Cash under dragon).

Many hours detecting . . a total of 4 coins, 2 wheat pennies, and these 2 Chinese coins (as well as several trade tokens). Curious to me, why there would be as many Chinese coins here as US currency (Great Plains, Colorado).

The reason there is just as much chinese currency as U.S is because in the early 19th century, chinese immigrants were allowed to enter the U.S as well as Canadian plains for mining, as well as to help build the canadian pacific railroad. The population increased for years until 1882 when an immigration ban (exclusion) was placed on the chinese people, stopping more from comming over. This naturally caused the population to decrease because most of the immigrants currently allowed in the country were men. Then in the 1940's, the Chinese exclusion was lifted, and 1960's reform in both countries caused a wave of labourers to return in order to work. All along the plains of both countries lived miners and rail workers, building communities, one of which was in great plains colorodo. Inside these communities chinese currency was traded amongst others for goods and services, and in highly populated areas, chinese currency was more predominant than U.S. I beleive that is why there would be heavy chinese currency deposits in great plains, as well as all over the western plains in Canada and the U.S...keep on diggin!

hope this helps...

Sorry, forgot to mention that I think the date is pre-1900, based on the history of the area.

I'm quite sure that's a copy. A common tell-tale sign is "grains" on the field to make it look rough, because real ones were cast and had that rough look.

Also to DINO, I saw you mention "cleaning it up a bit"...please dont do this just so we can have better pics...you are basically washing the history off the coin and is not worth our opinions.

3rd Chinese coin - early 20th century dump site, southeastern Colorado

Obviously I'm being too aggressive in removing corrosion from coin, but when found they are barely recognizable. I couldn't even determine a coin for sure until cleaned somewhat. Very short vinegar bath and fingernail, but I can see even with my fingernail I scratched the surface pretty significantly because of hardness of clinging grit.

What should I be doing with these to clean them to a point they are recognizable?

And, are they worth anything anyway. I'm entertained like crazy just from the historical perspective and don't really care about value, as I imagine they are not worth much.

Thanks for thoughts, Dino