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ANCIENT CHINA

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Below is a selection from my large stock of knife, spade and other early forms. Many of these pieces have been authenticated by the top North American expert. This is important, as the market is flooded with forgeries. Primary listing reference is "F" = Fisher's Ding; "C" = Coole Encyclopedia. I have many ancient Chinese in the $0.50-$10 range which will be listed here eventually.

I will be relisting these items by Hartill numbers. For now, primary References are S = Schjöth Chinese Currency, F = Fisher Fisher's Ding, J =Jen Chinese Cash: Identification and Price Guide, Hua Zhong Guo GU Qian Mu Lu (1998 3 vol), Ts = Tsai An Illustration of Chinese Ancient Coins (1999), SS = Shintei Showa Senpu by Hirao Shusen, and others. For more information on these and other references, see my books page.

The Chinese government wants to use U.S. Customs to confiscate old coins imported from China so they can sell them for their own profit! Contact your legislators now.    DETAILS

SPADE (PU) COINAGE

      Originating c 770?-600?BC in the Yellow River valley, these were modelled on an agricultural implement ("proto-spade") used in barter. By c.425 BC inscribed spades were produced, carrying the name of the issuing city. Wang (1951) divides the hollow handles into three categories: Type I: the very large, uninscribed spade, Type II: Large, square-shouldered, slightly curved at bottom, and Type III: Smaller, square or slant shouldered, distinct curve at bottom.

LATE SPADES   Pointed-foot late spades are generally attributed to State of Wei (Kaifeng area), and square-foots to the states of Wei, Han, and Yen, both c. 300 BC. They are descended from the pointed-foot and curved-bottom hollow handled spades respectively. The offering below includes high grade pieces that were among the first Ancient coins to come out of China in the early 1980s. Since then the quality of late spades (and knives) available has dropped, though excellent counterfeits have been made to fill the demand.

F160    Square-foot Spade     An Yang This is the commonest city issuing square-foot spades. C1319, Jen-20, S-13-23   About Fine, a little oiling or brushing will bring the inscription up (sample piece shown) $25
F158    - - - - P'ing Yang C2727, S-7-12   Vg (sample piece shown) $25
F178    - - - -    State of Yen, c.300 BC, Yin P'ing. Another Manchurian city issuing a small spade. A bit scarcer. C1527   G-Vg $22

KNIFE (TAO) COINAGE

      Originating in the Shantung Peninsula c 770?-600?BC, knife coins were also modelled on a type of knife or machete used in agriculture. The sequencing, much less dating, of knife coins is still quite uncertain. In his Monetary History of China, Peng Xinwei leans to the theory that the crude, light needle-tip knives were the first, and contemporary with hollow-handled spades The sequence of these Yen State knives, if not the dating, is fairly clear. The earliest pointed-tips are likely the broad, highly-curved ones, followed by narrower, straighter pieces, often with the same inscriptions, then the curved-back Ming knives (including large-character issues for occupied Chi territory) and finally the angle-backed or ñchiming stoneî Mings. In Chi State, the Jiang family issued heavy knives beginning with the five-character Ji Mo Tse Fa Huo (c. 567 BC), and An Yang Tse Fa Huo (c.549), followed by Qi Tse Fa Huo (c. 404), and Ji Mo Fa Huo (c. 375), then the Tien family issues of Qi Jien Ban Zhan Fa Huo and the commoner three-character, Qi Fa Huo, both circa 378 BC. Several rare light knife types and the round-tops were probably from Zhao State and contemporary with or later than the angled Ming knives.

H4004x   Fake 6-character   State of Chi (Qi), late type of heavy knife coin, c. 378 BC, Qi Jien Ban Zhan Fa Huo recarved from a four-character knife, probably in the late 19th century. The recarved calligraphy is rather skillful. What gives it away is a break in the level of the raised rim on the back of the coin where the handle joins the blade. The earlier 4 and 5-character knives have a continuous raised rim, while the later 3 and 6-character types have a lower, narrower rim on the handle. This can be distinguished in a good rubbing. Note #2575 in the "Shanghai Encyclopedia" and Hartill #4.4, both of which are altered pieces like this one. I wonder why the forger(s) did not use the commoner 3-character knife, which has a solid rim like the 6-characters. NOT FOR SALE

MING KNIVES - ALL SOLD OUT The earliest coins of Yan State were the broad, highly-curved pointed-tips, followed by narrower, straighter pieces, often with the same inscriptions. Then came the curved-back Ming knives (including large-character issues for occupied Chi territory) and finally the angle-bakced or ñchiming stoneî Mings. The obverse character, formerly thought to be Ming is now read as Yan or Yi (mint city of Yan). The reverse inscriptions usually begin with Tso (left), Yu (right), Yi (secondary capital of Yan), or single character Hsing. These inscriptions may identify coinage boards. After about 200 BC coinage of Ming knives ceased as round coinage became the norm. DISCOUNT 10% if taking 2 or more Ming Knives in the $27.50-$35 range.

F341   "Ming" Knife - Curved Back    State of Yen, ca. 350-250 BC   Reverse: Tso (left) & additional characters    Coole-6965+, Schjoth 53-54   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 27.50 SOLD
F342A   - - - -    Reverse: Yu (right) & additional characters    Coole-7130+, Schjoth 55   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 30.00 SOLD
F341z   - - - -    Reverse: unusual characters. See Coole Encyclopedia to identify. Note also unusual writings of "Ming". Generally I have found only 1-3 pieces per hundred which do not start with the four usual characters.   Each: 45.00 SOLD

F341A   "Ming" Knife - Angled Back    State of Yen, ca. 250-200 BC. Also called "chimingstone" Ming knife   Reverse: Tso (left) & additional characters    Coole-6961+, Schjoth 60, 58?   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 30.00 SOLD
F342   - - - -    Reverse: Yu (right) & additional characters    Coole-7130+, Schjoth 55   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 32.50 SOLD
F344   - - - -    Reverse: Yi (secondary capital of Yan State) & additional characters    Coole-7561+, Schjoth 57   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 30.00
F344N   - - - -    Reverse: Hsing (name of coinage board?) alone    Coole-7940+, Schjoth 51,52   F-VF (as scan or nicer) 32.50 SOLD


OTHER EARLY MONEY FORMS

      Cowrie shells (Cyprea moneta & Cyprea anullis) made the transition from adornment to money during the change from Yin to Chou dynasties ca. 1150 B, according to P'eng Xinwei. The I pi, ant nose, or imitation cowrie monies of Chu State were used from the 8th-3rd c. BC, thus contemporary with the oldest knife and spade monies. Apparently they were controversial in Schjoth's day as he did not include them in his coinage section. Halberd money, also known as Ko money, Ge, or Je, is a small, fragile imitation of a weapon combining an ax with a spear, used in.Wu State during Spring & Autumn Annal (c.526-476 BC). Although only recently discovered, they are widely accepted by Chinese archaeologists as money due to an apparent size/denominational structure, and where they are placed in burials. Bridge Money have now been dated to c. 306-221BC and are accepted by many - but not all - Chinese numismatists as actual coins of Ba and Shu States.

F4   I-Pi Ch'ien (Imitation Cowrie)   Called ant nose, or ghost head money as the inscription looks like a face. S15 (plate 96), J-976   Selected large specimens: Vg $6.95
F4a   - - - smaller specimens F+ $15.00
XG646   Trade Beads   The Chinese have been making crude, wound-type beads for trade for centuries, characterized by a traditional set of colors. The distinctive tourquoise-colored Padre beads are a well-known example. These strands range from medium blue to purple-black, and round to tubular. Two sample strands shown. Per strand:   $15
XG647   Modern version of "Peking glass" in a range of colors. These are still traded into Thailand and Shan Burma. Strands vary 12-17" and if you are not particular aobut color I can send you the largest.    Five beads, mixed colors $1.75;    Per strand:;   $15

BURIAL MONEY and ANTIQUITIES

6738   Bell Money (light)    Probably worn by horses, but long collected as a form of money. Dating to Warring Sates period. These are the thin-metal pieces, found in many varieties, and catalogued in Coole Encyclopedia vol. 5, and Ramsden's work. Table below shows available pieces: width at bottom, weight in grams. Scan is enlarged. Specimens shown in scan but not in table are SOLD.
Image Width Weight Clapper Notes Price
6738c 25 6.73 no crusty; small chip 40.00
6738d 34 7.93 no sharp design 50.00
6738e 26 6.23 no crack in top; one leg shorter 40.00
6738h 58 16.58 no no loop; little patina 50.00
6738j 46 10.55 yes no loop; chip 40.00

6741a   Bell Money (late)    General appearance of an old bell and not recent, but later than Warring States. 22m width at base, 7.70gm, clapper, looks like old cleaning. $20
6750   Bell Money (heavy)    Like the thin types, these are Warring States horse bells. The old-time collectors who believed all "thin" metal objects of the period were money ignorerd these thick pieces because of their obvious utilitarian value. Table below shows available pieces: width at bottom, weight in grams. Scan is enlarged. Specimens shown in scan but not in table are SOLD.
6750a 31 40.27 no 55.00
6750b 4 57.82 yes Heavy crust; casting hole; clapper "frozen" by crust 50.00
6750c 47 95.4 no casting holes 75.00


Ax2   Working Ax   Socketed Ax head, probably Warring States period, 73mm long, thick metal (not delicate)    $85

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