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 Replies: 15 / Views: 4,349 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
I just got this from a junk box today. It is a fairly large cash coin (27mm & 11.5 grams) which obviously is not a real circulation coin. It may be a token of some sort, but I think that it may be a fertility charm or even a token of some sort advertising a brothel. The obverse has 4 character, just as a real cash coin would, but the reverse has four images, each of which depicts...well, figures engaged in sexual acts. I don't want to offend anyone nor break rules of the forum, so I shall only show an image of the obverse (at least for now). So does anyone possibly have any information about coins of this sort? Any help, comments, or information would be very much appreciated!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
Well, *this* side looks rather nice.. although sort of marbled, which doesn't seem to be the norm.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Clockwise starting from the top: Moon, Cloud, Wind, Flower
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3499 Posts |
Wow, fast responses. Maybe I should include the word "pornographic" in the titles of my topics more often (just kidding) haha.
xshift- Yes, the surfaces do look fake, but it still may be a wee bit old due to the weight and size. It is in fact cast and not struck. It is quite obvious that this coin is fake, but it probably does have some sort of interesting history.
Saruma- Moon, Cloud, Wind, Flower? Interesting. That does lead me to think that this is a charm of some sort...or maybe that is some sort of innuendo. hmm
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Moderator
 United States
6563 Posts |
Quote:
I don't want to offend anyone nor break rules of the forum I think that's a good idea not to post it. We do have some kids that frequent the forum.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
Top: Wind; The wind touch the skin/blow the hair of your lover;
Right: Snow; Playing snow with your lover;
Bottom: Flower; Kissing your lover under a big tree with flower;Bring flower to your lover;
Left: Moon; holding hands walking in the moonlight at night;
In Chinese culture, Wind-Flower-Snow-Moon (fixed order) means romantic situations. "Candle-light dinner" is appromixately equivalent;
Did you get it at a yard sale?
Edited by Yinzi50
12/02/2009 11:32 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Yinzi50- I just got this out of my dealer's junk box. He bought a few cash coins and other assorted real coins from a customer and didn't realize that he had bought this as part of the group until later. Realizing that this was probably not a real coin, and not an easy coin to sell, it ended up in the 25 cent box. I just love cash coins, be they real or odd fake charms. Thank you very much for the translation and interpretation of the elements!
Edited by Archraz
12/02/2009 11:44 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Yinzi50 is correct that the right character is snow not cloud. My Chinese girlfriend (born and raised in Hong Kong no less!) let out an embarrassed laugh when I had her look at it again. Apparently the characters are very similar and she didn't look closely enough!
She does disagree somewhat with the interpretation of those words signifying a romantic situation. But she does say those are feminine oriented words.
Edited by Saruma
12/03/2009 12:24 am
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
If its about 40mm diameter, it may be a "fertility" amulet, the one who owns it will be strengthened by the "powers" of nature to "fulfill" his destiny, or something to that effect Please excuse the flowery english, it's quite difficult to communicate on such subjects as amulets on this specific category. There are many such things, usually cast metal, here in inner city areas, called amulets or medalions or such, there are words on Obv and figures on the Rev, and sold off by street vendors  the buyer picks the "coin" showing what he is "praying" for. I just noticed you gave the diameter of 27mm, havent seen any that small just some info I picked up while growing up in my teen years Edited by Nic
12/03/2009 04:18 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Saruma & Nic - thanks for all of the info!
Nic- That is very interesting that these are charms that represent what the buyer is praying for. I just wonder for how long this practice has been occurring. Though this coin has rather fake-looking coloring, there is just something about it that looks like it is kind of weathered and old as well. Sort of like it was made awhile back but what intended to look old then. You did mention that you have not seen any as small as mine, so out of curiosity, just how large are many of the charms that you have seen?
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
The biggest I've seen Archraz is about 50mm diameter, about 5mm thick, some have holes so strings can be attached and worn around the neck with amulet out of sight, most are like antique coins but others are small metal spheres, crosses, semi-swastikas etc. There are amulets for warding off evil and for physical protection, some for spiritual protection, etc etc. It involves all aspects of fulfilling one's emotions or warding off fear and inviting Lady Luck. The funny thing is that these are sold in inner Manila near the centurys old churches, sometimes they crop up in antique shops or sold as curio items by dealers who dont know what they are. I also saw these, last year, in Macau and in Thailand, and yes - always near a church and hawked by street vendors with pull up tables the tip-off is that one side are all words (that's the "call") and the other side are figures (associated with the "wish") I don't collect them, I've seen too many holywood movies on this subject |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Nic- wow, interesting stuff! But why do you think that these are mainly sold outside of churches? Is it due to these churches being possible tourist sites or is it that one would expect to buy a lucky or spiritual amulet near a center of worship? Quote:
I've seen too many holywood movies on this subject Are you serious? There are movies about collecting lucky amulets? hmmmm |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
Hi Archraz, well... to buy one is to believe in one, and near churches are where believers are, sort of a sales strategy. Not all are lucky charms, some are deadly, the problem is.. if one starts to believe in them, you never really know where it will end. the funniest movie on this concept is Austin Powers with his "mojo". the "mojo" could easyly have been a coin, but in this case the director featured it as a bottle. Another same concept are the relics hunted down by Indiana Jones, or the Lucky "horse shoe" of another actor, was it John Wayne? In asia it's charms in coin form and it covers not only luck, there's one for any type of wish, and a lot of folks take it seriously. Please excuse if I sound critical about these coins, just saw the adverse side of it when I was in my teens. So I'll just stick with the genuine coins |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
Samura: Here is a homework for your girlfriend. http://baike.baidu.com/view/11172.htmIf you see the reverse, you will know it is a porno piece which usually given to young bride by her mom when she is getting married (sometimes with a colored book) in early times. |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
thanks Yinzi50, that would confirm the coin as a charm, with a small diameter  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Yinzi50- Oh so this coin is "a porno piece which usually given to young bride by her mom when she is getting married?" Very interesting. Are these types of charms still popular and being produced today?
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Replies: 15 / Views: 4,349 |
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Posted 12/02/2009 10:38 pm
