August 14, 2012

• Identifying Old Chinese Coins

  My late husband collected coins from all over the world so I was interested in a very large old Chinese coin that was on our Silent Auction table at last Saturday’s weekly condo coffee hour….we sometimes have interesting programs too. Last Saturday’s program was given by the director of the Model Airplane Museum which is located in my hometown. Their national association has members from all 50 states…quite a big organization….but to get back to the coin. I was the only one  to bid on the large Chinese coin in the fabric covered box so it became mine. It’s two and a half inches (63.5 mm) across and weighs 1.75 ounces (49.6 grams).  I put it on a chain today and wore it as a pendant necklace even had some earrings that matched it pretty well.

  Anyway, if anyone out there knows what is written on this big coin, I’d like to know what the characters mean. Here are pictures of the front and back. It did make a nice necklace altho’ a bit heavy! It looks like the coin’s back has an animal figure on it…a deer  or something? The proprietor of our “First Wok” Chinese carry-out restaurant said the characters were of the old style of writing not used anymore so it was a pretty old coin. But that is all I know so far. I’ll keep searching for information.

    

  • 11:55 pm
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