| KNIFE MONEY ca. 400 - 250 BC |
| PHOTO | H# | DESCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
 | 4.41-4 | Ming Knife: Curved Back | State of Yen, ca.350-250 BC, Rev: You & characters | VF, light scraping below Ming for soil removal $ 100.00 |
| 4.41-4 | Ming Knife: Curved Back | State of Yen, ca.350-250 BC, Rev: You & characters | VF $ 100.00 |
 | 4.42 | Ming Knife: Angle Back | State of Yen, ca.250-200 BC, Rev: blank or unclear. | F+/blank $ 65.00 |
| 4.42-5 | Ming Knife: Angle Back | State of Yen, ca.250-200 BC, Rev: Zuo & 2 chars. | VF-EF, broken $ 30.00 |
 | 4.59 | Straight Knife | State of Zhao, 300-250 BC Bai (barely visible teardrop shape) FD346 | $ 350.00 |
| LOWER GRADE EXAMPLES OFFERED HERE |
| OTHER EARLY MONEY FORMS ca. 400 - 220 BC |
| PHOTO | H# | DESCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
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.
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 | 5.20j | Bridge: Loop-top, with design. | (Ch'ing or Tingle-tangle) Ba & Shu States, Szechuan, ca. 306-221BC Design: Border & internal lines, 131mm 15.31gm | Crusty, loop broken away $ 40.00 |
| EARLY BURIAL MONIES, ETC. |
| PHOTO | H# | DESCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
 | 5.206 | Cowrie, bone | Two-holes, white. Holes likely for attachment to clothing or funeral bier, 20-24mm long. Greenish cast may be from storage in bronze vessel. H1.2v, Coole 51-66 | Selected with worn or polished look $ 22.50 |
 | 5.230S4 | Cowrie, bone & clay | Set of 3 different: Bone with two-hole reverse, Bone with plain back& clay with plain back. 19-23mm tall. Exact pieces shown in photo. | $ 49.50 |
 | 5.386L | Clamshell & Bell | Lot of damaged clamshell burial cowries (three) and bell "money", broken. | $ 20.00 |
 | 5.604c | Bell "Money" | Wide, squared loop top, clapper; design. 51mm high x 54mm wide 34.45gm Long, functional clapper moves freely; bright, rich sound Coole6751-52v | Very sharp, two small casting holes in top (not shown) $ 125.00 |
| 5.604d | Bell "Money" | Wide, squared loop top, clapper; design. 66.7mm high x 56.5mm wide 38.76gm Long, functional clapper moves freely; dull sound Coole6751-52v | Very sharp, two small casting holes in top (not shown) $ 165.00 |
 | 5.629 | Bell / Gong (functional) | Musical instrument, cow bell, etc. Loop is two posts with band of metal between, Warring States, ca. 480 BC., 72x48mm, 95gm. | Small casting holes, slight bend in loop $ 85.00 |
 | 5.650a | Shield / Gold Cake | Rough terracotta piece with flat bottom and pattern (dragon) on domed top, attributed to Western Han. A.k.a. Carapace Money. An article in JEAN v.14 (5/2019) p.30 on Bai Jin (cake money) describes lead/tin ingots bearing the image of a coiled dragon (and others with horse, turtle) as coins issued by Western Han Emp. Wu. This terracotta piece would likely be a contemporary private making for burials. 45mm, 23.86gm. | $ 40.00 |
 | 5.731 | Ax | Functional tool or weapon. Rectangular perforation for shaft locking. 83gm, 87mm | $ 110.00 |
 | 5.805 | Arrows (crossbow) | Tri-blade, fluted at bottom, bits of iron shafts inserted. Warring States period. Mostly30-40mm point plus variable tang. Ramsden #41. Found on the "Cavalry plains" of Mongolia by sheep ranchers, dated to ca.378-221 BC, and exactly the type found in the famous tomb of Shih Huang-ti. | SAMPLES Shown. Available: 5.805a) Crusty, some minor chips 7.50; 5.805b) Good: Some crustiness $9.00; 5.805c) Best quality $12.50 $ |
| 5.815 | Arrows (crossbow) | Tri-blade, flat sides. Mongolia area(?), ca. 200BC-200AD. Most 22-29mm long plus rusted iron tang. Ramsden #38. | SAMPLES Shown. Crusty $ 10.00 |
 | 5.840 | Arrows with shafts | Available: 5.840a) Clumped pair of long 146mm arrows with shafts. Intact $75; 5.840b) Crossbow bolt 139mm. Chips & crusty $27.50; 5.840c) Crossbow bolt 142mm, Tip missing $20 | $ $20 - $75 |
| MORE VARIETIES OFFERED HERE |
| WANG MANG 7 - 23 AD |
| PHOTO | H# | INSCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
 | 9.7D | Da Quan Wu Shi | Wide, flat rim obverse, 29,74mm, 7.18gm. Does not appear to be pounded flat as edge is regular. | VF, uneven crust $ 30.00 |
 | 9.29E | Spade: Value 1000 | Da Bu Heng Qian VARIETY: LINE above hole, Da arms down; SMALL characters. About 55-57mm tall x 24mm wide; 11.85gm FD485v, S145-147, HG212/3 | F-F+ $ 145.00 |
 | 9.30A | Spade: Value 25 | Huo Bu Variety: Smooth, squared edges. 57-58x22mm; 17.56gm. FD486, S148, HG214/1 | EF-UC, crusty $ 75.00 |
| 9.30A | Spade: Value 25 | Huo Bu Variety: Smooth, squared edges. 57-58x22mm; 15.98gm. FD486, S148, HG214/1 | EF-UC, darker patina $ 85.00 |
| 9.30B | Spade: Value 25 | Huo Bu Variety: Ridged edges, sometimes with flashing. 57-58x22mm; 18.57gm. FD486, S148, HG214/1 | EF $ 125.00 |
 | 9.60C | Huo Quan: Biscuit | Early-Middle issue (large & thick, range 8-14gm). 10.0gm, 26.8mm. | AVF $ 35.00 |
 | 9.64a | Huo Quan: No rim: Chicken Eye | Similar in fabric to Eastern Wu and Western Jin issues (c. 222-317 AD) and probably belonging to this period according to R. Doo. 12.7mm, 0.447g FD668-669v, S-nl, HG220/3 | $ 40.00 |
 | 5002 | Charm: Da Quan Wu Shi | Rev: ?, Turtle?, Constellation, Branch?, 24.95mm, 3.15gm. Ca. Yuan Dynasty. Actual charms of the Wang Mang era are extremely rare. A similar piece (also Yuan-era) recently brought $600+18% in Steve Album sale #21, Lot 753, while two similar pieces on Chinese auctions failed to reach estimates in the $1000-2000 range. | VF $ 550.00 |
| 5005 | Charm: Da Quan Wu Shi | Rev: Turtle, Constellation, Snake, Sword, 17.4mm, 2.15gm. Ca. Yuan Dynasty. Actual charms of the Wang Mang era are extremely rare. A larger piece (also Yuan-era) recently brought $600+18% in Steve Album sale #21, Lot 753. | AEF $ 250.00 |
| MORE VARIETIES OF COMMON TYPES OFFERED HERE |
| WU ZHU - EASTERN HAN & LATER FROM AD 25 |
| PHOTO | H# | DESCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
 | 10.10 | Wu Zhu: Full rims | Small coin with full inner and outer rims both sides. Kingdom of Shu, 221-263, Szechuan (not Gansu). 21.50mm, 2.14gm. S224 | F, very crusty $ 30.00 |
 | 10.18 | Wu Zhu, iron | Outer & inner rims both sides, long dashes at corners reverse. Avg. 19-21mm, 3gm. Liang Dynasty, 523 AD S232 | SAMPLES shown. Vg $19.50; Fine $ 27.50 |
 | 10.27 | Wu Zhu: Outer ring | Thread ring, or Yan Huan. Late Eastern Han. S304, 305 | SAMPLES shown: Brown VF (cleaned & retoned) $12; Green VF (fairly even patina, sharp characters) $ 12.00 |
 | 10.29 | Wu Zhu: Tiny, sharp | Tiny, well-made with deep fields. Western Han Dynasty, Emp. Wu Di Distinctive type, a burial coin according to Roger Doo. 12mm, avg. 0.63gm. S208-210 FD597, S208-210 | shown: F-VF, crusty $5.00; Hoard EF-UC chalky gray, or brown EF $ 15.00 |
 | 10.32 | Wu Zhu | Eastern Han, Dot above hole, note Zhu is slightly larger than the hole, distinguishing from W. Han issues. S260 | Hoard, probably as-made, but look Fine. Cleaned. Samples shown. ($4 each per 5+) $ 6.50 |
 | 10.33 | Wu Zhu: Corner lines | "Four horns," short strokes at obverse corners. S178a | SAMPLES shown: EF, crusty $19.50; VF, grn/brn $21.50; EF, brown $ 26.50 |
 | 10.72 | Wu Zhu: control marks | Middle E. Han, dash below Zhu, "eleven" rev. L. Control marks for licensed feudal mint. | F $ 40.00 |
| 10.75B | Wu Zhu: control marks | Middle E. Han, two dots above hole, control devices of a licensed feudal mint. | F+, crusty $ 25.00 |
| MORE VARIETIES OFFERED HERE |
| NORTH AND SOUTH DYNASTIES 420 - 581 AD |
| PHOTO | H# | INSCRIPTION | DETAILS | PRICE |
 | 13.23A | Yong An Wu Zhu | Northern Wei, Xiao Zhuangdi, 529-531, Variety: Yong R radical's arch below center; Zhu bottom below hole; Wu is bent "X"; Characters thick. 22.6mm, 1.92gm. FD608v, S239 | VF+ $ 55.00 |
| 13.23G | Yong An Wu Zhu | Northern Wei, Xiao Wudi, 532- ca. 534, Variety: Yong R radical's arch below center; Zhu bottom even with hole; Wu is perfect "X"; Characters thin. 23.9mm, 2.40gm. FD608v, S237v | hoard EF-UC $ 45.00 |
 | 13.30M | Wu Xing Da Bu, Charm | Northern Zhou Dynasty (557 - 581), Emp. Xuan, 579-81. Double sided. An old charm, possibly contemporary. 27.3mm, 6.38gm. FD641, S248, HG271/1 | EF $ 200.00 |
| MORE VARIETIES OFFERED HERE |
| NORTHERN SONG DYNASTY 1127 - 1279 AD |
| PHOTO | H# | REIGN TITLE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| References: "GKD" = Northern Song Dynaasty Cash Variety Guide (Kosen Daizen), v. 2-7, by Norman Gorny. |
 | 16.58 | Xiang Fu yuan bao | IRON 10 Cash, 36.1 mm, 17.231 g FD890, S478, HG432/2 | Vg $ 65.00 |
 | 16.99Y | Huang Song tong bao | Seal script, Variety as H16.99, but much larger and thicker with broad rims. Reverse slightly off center. 28.05mm, 5.83gm. Hua Guangpu (Ed.), Zhongguo Guqian Daji, V.2 (Song Dynasties), p. 457 is the only listing I can find for this coin, with a value equivalent to US$3200. | VF $ 1,500.00 |
 | 16.126B | Qing Li zhhong bao | IRON 3 Cash, Variety: small characters 35.154 mm HG450/1 | F $ 45.00 |
 | 16.A148 | Jia You yuan bao | Regular scripts, Variety: Huge characters; Pao not tilted. FS #225, GKD515.08 "R5" | Vg $ 200.00 |
 | 16.179 | Xi Ning yuan bao | Seal script, Rev: Heng, mintmark for Henzhou, Hunan. Mintmark appears to have been covered (solder?) at one time, then scraped clean. Ex-Daniel Ching collection. | F/G $ 65.00 |
 | 16.233 | Yuan Feng tong bao | Li script, Variety: Tong small head. Feng top three points (vs. 2) distinguishes from common Japanese issue. 4.46gm. (S546), GKD238 | AVF $ 200.00 |
 | 16.272C | Yuan You tong bao | IRON 3 Cash Seal script, Variety: Very large chars., almost touch each other. S580v | VF+ $ 45.00 |
 | 16.304F | Shao Sheng yuan bao | IRON 3 Cash, Seal script, Variety: Bao wide, bei square, cap rounded, cap & feet even with IRs; Sheng top slightly above IR S597v | slightly rough VF-EF $ 20.00 |
| 16.304J | Shao Sheng yuan bao | IRON 3 Cash, Seal script, Variety: Bao wide, bei square, cap rounded with long sides, cap & feet slightly above IRs; Sheng even with IRs; broad rim. S597v | VF+, slightly spotty $ 25.00 |
 | 16.320 | Shao Sheng yuan bao | IRON 3 Cash, Running script, Variety: Sheng spaced away from IR, base even with IR. S598v | F $ 17.50 |
 | 16.418D | Da Guan tong bao | Slender gold script, Variety: Da R leg very high, extends well over Tong head; Tong large head (probably); Bao cap rounded on R, not touch IR; Kuan top horizontal R midway on box. Excepting the Bao cap, this is as H#418, which is a scarce variety. A Chinese dealer charged $370 in 2000 for this poorly cast specimen. but a recent Chinese valuation work shows 500RMB value. S628v, 629v | AVF but eroded-looking right side $ 200.00 |
 | 16.453B | Zheng He tong bao | IRON 3 Cash, Li script, Variety: Tong base above IR, othwise as #453, 29.7 mm, 8.889 gm. S640v | F+ $ 30.00 |
| DETAILED VARIETIES OFFER, COPPER AND IRON, HERE |
| SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY 960 - 1127 AD |
| PHOTO | H# | REIGN TITLE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| ORDERING TIP: For a specific year, order by the exact H number (example: 17.192). If year doesn't matter, order by range (example: H17.190-195) and you will get the best grade. |
 | 17.272 | Chun Xi yuan bao | IRON 2 Cash, Variety: (28.5mm); Rev. Shu Song, Crescent right. | VF/F $ 125.00 |
 | 17.345 | Shao Xi yuan bao | IRON 2 Cash, Rev. Narrow Chun & 5. | VF-EF $ 35.00 |
| 17.356 | Shao Xi yuan bao | IRON 2 Cash, Rev. Tong & 4. Commonest year. | SAMPLES shown: VF+ $ 35.00 |
 | 17.440 | Qing Yuan tong bao | IRON 2 Cash ARBL, Rev. Tong & 4. S811 | AVF/AVF $ 25.00 |
 | 17.679B | Da Song yuan bao | 1225; Variety: Pao short & broad, long right leg; Rev. Yuan (Yr. 1) small. Scarce date, rare variety. A realistic Chinese reference prices at RMB2,000. S959 | F+/AF $ 200.00 |
 | 17.742 | Duan Ping tong bao | 5 Cash, Variety: Bao wide bei open; Tong head open, 37.5mm, 13.73gm. Rosette hole. S983 | VF-EF, crusty $ 85.00 |
 | 17.827 | Kai Qing tong bao | 1259; Yr. 1 S1036 | Vg brown or green $6.00; F brn or green $ 10.00 |
| MANY MORE COPPER & IRON OFFERED HERE |
| MING DYNASTY 1368 - 1644 AD |
| PHOTO | H# | REIGN TITLE | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| References: "M" = Da Ming Quan Pu by Liu Zheng-Zhu, 2009; "KM" = Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700, 5th Ed. |
 | 20.213 | Tian Qi tong bao | Rev: Yi qian R, Yi Fen L, Variety: Tong head small eye, large snout (as #201), 24.6mm, 2.89gm. 4/2017 NOTE: Under investigation as a contemporary counterfeit at Zeno#183932 FD1994, K31.10v, M1385 | Vg $ 950.00 |
 | 20.261 | Chong Zhen tong bao | Rev: Yi above, Qian below, Variety: Zhen angled; Tong 1-dot; Bao bei open, 25mm, 3.287gm. FD2031, S1241, HG1042/5, K64 | AF, cleaned $ 20.00 |
 | 20.310 | Chong Zhen tong bao | Rev. Hu below, Variety: Zhen straight; Tong 1-dot. FD2046, S1249, K70 | VF-EF $ 20.00 |
 | 20.311M | Chong Zhen tong bao | Rev: Hu Jiu above & below, Sun & Moon R & L. Probably a secret society coin, privately made during or shortly after this reign. | VF+, slightly crusty $ 750.00 |
 | 20.322M | Chong Zhen tong bao | Rev. official 8 fen (#308) below, Zhen straight; Tong 3-dot. 24.64mm, 2.70gm. FD2037v, S1245v, K68.1v | Vg+ $ 17.50 |
| MANY MORE VARIETIES OF COMMON TYPES OFFERED HERE |
| BOOKS / CATALOGS |
| COVER | AUTHOR | Click on title to see sample page. | PRICE |
| CHECK OUR HUGE BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SALES OFFER FOR BOOKS ON CHINESE CAST CASH. |
 | Hartill, David | Cast Chinese Coins The now standard reference from 650 BC to 1912, over 5000 listings with rubbings, X-refs to S and FD, and rarity guide, informed by latest Chinese research and archaeological finds. Historical background and contemporary accounts of coinage use. Numerous maps, charts & finding list. A "type" catalog, with some varieties, though more specialized works are needed for varieties of Banliang, Wuzhu, Song, etc.. 2017 "2nd edition" is pretty much the same, from a different printer; 474p, sc, 8x11", 2005, List price $49.95 Minimum book post outside USA is $31 | $ 39.00 |
 | Semans, S. & Smith, B. | Daniel K.E. Ching Sale 6/2/91Specialized auction of Chinese cast and struck coins, banknotes, charms, exonumia, Japan, and other Asia in a quality format auction of 1375 lots, about 40% illustrated. Informative mini-articles by Bruce Smith, census figures for modern coins. Minimum book post outside USA is $31 | $ 45.00 |
 | China Guardian | Auction Catalogs This large Beijing firm conducts auctions in many collectibles fields, publishing high quality full color catalogs since at least 2003. Numismatic catalogs (2-4 per year) cover ancient, modern, sycee, charms, banknotes, etc. in various combinations. Older catalogs are difficult to obtain. Bilingual English/Chinese. U.S. agent Richard Ho can provide current catalogues at around $55 each. We have a number of past catalogs in stock; please inquire. Minimum book post outside USA is $31 | $ 35.00 |
 | Thierry, Francois | Les monnaies de la Chine ancienne: Des origines å la fin de l'Empire A by-dynasty history of the development of Chinese money with chapters on paper money, weights, calligraphy, and minting by one of the most respected western scholars in the field. Some photos, but his is not a catalog. French text, 665p,hc, 2017. Review. Shipment to North American addresses only. | $ 65.00 |
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