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2010 Hsiang Fu Yuan Pao, reign title from 1008-17 AD, rev: Boo Ciowan (copied from Qing Dynasty coins). Hsiang Fu may have been chosen for some propitious meaning, but it is also one of the commonest among many Song (and other) reign titles imitated in a large series of private Javanese cash which circulated along side the Chinese. Main variety, Tin with some gilding, some weak areas but generally EF 2.252040 Hsiang Fu Yuan Pao, reign title from 1008-17 AD, rev: Boo Ciowan. Fairly good calligraphy. Main type with orthodox script Yuan, several calligraphy varieties. crude F-VF 2.50
2080 Shun Zhi Tong Pao, brass recasts, rougher and thicker than the originals. Several different types (as shown). I can provide a few diffeent, but not specific ones. crude F-VF 2.50
X25 Indonesia Strings Most Chinese cash imported to the U.S. today are for the jewelry & crafts trade, and they come from Indonesia, where local Chinese communities have imported them for use since the Ming dynasty. Suppliers there collect them from villagers, construction people, or anyone else who finds them in a family treasure trove or buried in the ground. They are tied with plastic twine in strings of 200. Sometimes coins found at one spot will manage to stay together, as I have seen strings where every coin is toned & encrusted alike (common burial), or where there are no coins past Yung Cheng's reign. Sample strings from recent imports show about 90% Qing, naturally dominated by the commoner rulers, Peking Mints, though usually with some Sung, Ming, a Kai Yuan or two, and a few Japanese and Vietnamese. There may be a few contemporary counterfeits or badly worn/encrusted pieces, but generally they keep these out as unwanted by the jewelry market. Recent batches include a few crude copies of (usually) Qing cash, or novel designs, made recently for use in weddings or Muslim prayer shawls when genuine cash are scarce. I do not pick through these strings, nor does my supplier, but I have no idea who sees them before the coins get to him.
I pick these strings by leafing through them without breaking the cord, leaving the rest for the crafters. String of 200: $80 Three or more strings $70 each. Postage for up to 3 strings priority mail USA $4.80; most foreign $11.00 fper 2 strings airmail. Special Offer of selected, better strings.