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S1064C Tong-he Y-b (TBRL), 983-1012 AD First reign title of Sheng Tsung (983-1031) and issued in greater quantity than earlier reigns but still Rare. Variety with wide rims and small, neat characters (Hua Guangpu p.813 bot. left) Jen-389v - F1618v Generally clear Vg, crack through NE corner, chalk marks rev. $800
S1067 Xian Yong T-b, 1066-73 AD Jen-392 F-VF rough (nicer than scan) or VF with line from mould brek. Each: $60
S1073 Qian Tong Y-b, 1101-10AD Usual calligraphy. Slight irregularity at side shows sprue location. Jen-398, F1629, Hua p.826 Sharp EF $110S1073b Qian Tong Y-b, 1101-10AD Pei of Pao (box) closed on right, two top strokes of Yuan joined at center. These are calligraphy distinctions used during Sung to represent different mints. I can find no published specimen of this variety. Sharp VF+ $150
S1082 Guang Ding Y-b, 1212-22 VF+ $100
S1083 Zheng-Long Y-b, 1156-60 AD Jen-403 EF-UC (hoard find) $6.00
S1085 Da Ding T-b, 1161-89 AD Varieties as shown in Showa Senpu p.138-9 include (b) lower left stroke of Ding connects to second horizontal stroke, as on the mintmarked types, and (c) extreme droop to right portion of horizontal stroke in Da. Jen-404 (a) Usual variety Fine $2.00
S1127 Da Zhong T-b T-b, 1364-67 AD, First Ming reign title. Varieties: a) Tong has 1 dot, Da on inner rim, Zhong large, Bao bottom extends left; b) Da above inner rim & horizontal downward at right, etc.; g) Tong has 2 dots, Da above inner rim, Zhong small, Bao bottom different Jen-505 a and n) F-VF 7.50
S1185z Wan-li T-b, 1576-1619 One or more hairline chops in outer rim, said by Werner Burger to have been done by trading houses in Manilla. (Sample piece shown) AFine 4.50
S1202 Tian-qi T-b, 1621-27 Varieties attributable to Board of Revenue (BoR) and Board of Works (BoW) in Beijing: a) BoR-New Mint: 1-dot Tong; open Pei of Bao; Wide reverse rims. $6.00 b) BoR-New Mint:: As a but closed Pei $7.00 c) BoR-Old: As a but narrow rim $7.00 d) BoW: 2-dot Tong; Erh Bao $6.00 N) Nanking Mint??: Hooked Tong head with single triangular dot $8.50. All coins hoard EF-UC but some a bit crusty.
S1223 - - - - Value-10 / Tael, 46-47m F (several available) $19.50
S1256 - - - - Written, Rev: Chong & upturned crescent, crude style Lockhart specimen (L1163), F2057 AF $45
S1257 - - - - Rev: Xin. Two distinct types: A) Printed style, large Xin, 23m thin, F2053, Jen-1382, Hua p.1049, SSp.219i Vg+ $4, B) Written style, small Xin, 25m thick, SSp.221j Fine $25
F2055 - - - - Printed, Rev: Jiu above, 23.5m J-1381 F+, cleaned $125
S1277Xa - - - - Printed, Rev: Horse left, above, 22m. Private charm, not a coin, fair quality. Fine $50
S1278Xc - - - - Written, Rev: Horse left above, right below, 27m. Private charm, not a coin, fair quality. Vg+ $50
S1278Xa - - - - Printed, Rev: Horse left, below, 23.5m. Private charm, not a coin , excellent obv, but stocky horse DKC Sale, Lot 421. VF $50
S1321 - - - - One Candareen, 36-37m F2132v, Hartill-2.125 scratched edges from post-casting filing at mint VF $12; Hoard EF-UC, $15
S1323 Yong-chang T-b, 1644-45 Variety with two lines in top of Yong (commonest?) Hartill-2.3, F2134v, Jen-625v F+ $45
S1328 Da-shun T-b, 1644-47 Rev: Kung below , 28m. Varieties with a) closed (H2.14) SOLD or b) open (H2.15, 2.16) Bao a) F-VF 6.50; b) F+ $6.
S1332 Xing-chao T-b, 1648-57 Value-5, 34-35m a) Tong head round, Bao closed, large 5 (H2.22), or b) Tong round, Bao open, short five (H2.23) (a) VF 7.50; (a,b) Hoard EF-UC 12.50
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.