| Author |
 Replies: 14 / Views: 4,950 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
As of right now, I have 6 different spade coins ranging from about 500 BC to 25 AD. I have one more coming in the next couple of days (a Wang Mang "Huo Bu" spade), and I plan to get more/nicer examples of the square-foot and pointed-foot spades. Opinions on authenticity are always welcome. Hollow-Handled Spade (ca 400-300 BC) Obverse: "Wu" ("Military") Reverse: Blank H-2.170 Comments: The head is hollow (as would be on a farm implement) and filled with pottery (left over from the casting process).   Arched-Foot Heavy Spade (ca 400-300 BC) Obverse: (under debate) "Liang Chong Jin Wu Dang Lie Shi Er" ("Liang Money to be Used as 5 Jin and Equal to 12 Lie") Reverse: Blank H-3.48 *This one is a modern reproduction*   Pointed-Foot Spade (ca 350-250 BC) Obverse: "Zi Shi" or "Zi Shi Ban" Reverse: Blank H-3.144A or H-3.145   Flat-Footed Spade (ca 350-250 BC) Obverse: Blank (I believe) Reverse: Blank H-3.181   Tall Dang Jin Spade (ca 350-250 BC or later) Obverse: (under debate) "Pei Bi Dang Jin" ("Pei Coin Equivalent to a Jin") Reverse: "Si Huo" ("10 Huo") H-3.470 Comments: This coin was the basis for Wang Mang's spade coinage (see below). *The authenticity of this piece is yet uncertain.*   Wang Mang Spade (ca 10-14AD) Obverse: "Da Bu Heng Qian" ("Large Spade Weight 1000") Reverse: Blank H-9.29   Comments? Suggestions? Tell me below. |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
All very nice. I don't know enough about these to say if they are genuine or not. I know that they re widely forged in China and sold as genuine. They has gotten so good that it's very difficult to tell real or fake.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
These are very interesting. With your descriptions it tells me you have done your research. You have noted some of the reproduction and ones in question.
How did you get in to this study? Did you find these on-line?
As echizento stated, " I know that they are widely forged in China and sold as genuine."
This would make me scary.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Have you had contact w Frank Robinson of NY? He knows these very well.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
they are cool, but I couldn't tell a real one from a fake one. there has been some interesting money but not quite coin stuff posted here lately. this is the only thing I have in that catagory, some cast dolphins from olbia..  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
6370 Posts |
Quote:
Have you had contact w Frank Robinson of NY? He knows these very well. Yes. He believes all of the coins except the two that I have pointed out are genuine. He won't give an opinion on the tall spade as he doesn't want to liable for being wrong (which would be a $1500-2000 mistake). The modern reproduction I bought as such for $4 from a dealer selling only reproductions. Quote:
How did you get in to this study? Did you find these on-line? I bought all of these (with the exception of the modern fake) from the Hong Kong branch of Kelleher Auctions. The coins were consigned to them by an elderly long-time collector from California. They wouldn't give me a name for buyer privacy reasons, which I don't disagree with. The final price was well below my maximum bid, which covered the cost of just the cheap, low-grade stuff in the lot that I knew was genuine. That left me in a confortable position in case the two expensive spades (the hollow handle has been constitently realizing $700-1300 at Stack's auctions, and the tall spade $1000-1500) were fake. I've gotten fairly consistent opinions that the hollow handle is real, but no consensus has been reached on the tall spade. Quote:
I know that they re widely forged in China and sold as genuine. They has gotten so good that it's very difficult to tell real or fake. If it wasn't for this one auction lot, I wouldn't have even thought about dabbling in the rare spades as there is very little guarantee that I would be getting a genuine example. I willingly buy counterfeits of the rare issues and types because a) it's cheap and b) I don't have to worry about getting burned trying to buy real specimens. There are only two ways to weed out the best of the fakes: study Chinese coins for your entire life or have a confirmed provenance going back to before 1985. Edited by TypeCoin971793
07/09/2015 4:27 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
Here is one I purchased from Frank Robinson Many years ago. It was the most common and cheapest one on his list.   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
And a nice example at that.  Frank Robinson always charges a fair price on his items. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
This one just came in the mail. Wang Mang Spade (ca 14-25AD) Obverse: Huo Bu (Money Spade) Reverse: Blank H-9.30 Comments: -This is a Value 25 spade (Worth 25 cash coins, which at the time were Huo Quans) - This coin was used as a charm. They did not circulate much because very few people trusted the value of Wang's coins. In effect, very few are seen worn. When they are worn, they almost always have wear on the inside of the hole where someone strung it on a necklace.   Edited by TypeCoin971793
07/11/2015 3:19 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6478 Posts |
 Awesome (coins?  ) |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
They were used in commerce as money, so they are therefore coins. Or if it makes you feel better, call them spade money.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
I know nothing about these coins to contribute, but find them to very interesting. Thank you for posting, I have learned a lot!:)
Great collection!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Latest acquisition Hollow-Handled Spade Obverse: "Gan Dan" (City name) Reverse: Blank H-2.185 **This coin is a counterfeit, which is determined by the head being filled with metal. There should be no metal, hence "hollow" handle spade.**   |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
Edited by TypeCoin971793
07/27/2015 11:15 pm
|
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Congratulations. Glad you were able to have them verified and authenticated.
|
| |
Replies: 14 / Views: 4,950 |
|
Posted 07/08/2015 3:53 pm
