This coin is a Szechuan, or Sichuan, 100 cash of the KM500 type- there are several varieties- KM450 with the large flower in the centre (which I think this coin is , dated on the other side year 2 or year 3, in copper, with 2 rosettes;KM450a, in brass, year 2, with 2 rosettes; and KM450.1 , in copper, with a small flower, and also dated year 2 or year 3, with 3 rosettes on the other side.If yoou really want to get into varieties, you could count the number of horizontal and vertical lines in the centre on the side not shown, and also a huge number of variations in the characters. The dies were soft steel, and wore out quickly, and the province was often in the thrall of warlords who were not particular about the quality of the money issued, they just wanted money made soon.
Prices for the varieties , in F , are $6, $40; $3; $9, and unpriced. The year is the second character from the top left on the side not shown, a 2 has 2 horizontal lines, and the year 3 has 3 horizontal lines.
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Posted 04/22/2006 09:36 am
