Things You'll Need:
- Magnifying glass
- Reference materials
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Step 1
Look at the center hole of the ancient Chinese coin. The center hole was designed to allow a rod or cord to be inserted for ease in counting and carrying. The round bronze "Cash" coins with round center holes date from a time before the unification of China by the first emperor.
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Step 2
Examine the reverse side of the coin. Many Chinese coins have a plain reverse, and these are often older. The reverse tells the value of the coin, and as more denominations of coins were minted, characters were added to specifically identify the value.
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Step 3
Read the four characters on the obverse. The characters should be read in the following order: Top, Bottom, Right and Left. The first two characters are the reign title of the emperor. These are the standard characters for the emperor and they can be found in many reference books. The other two characters identify the type of coin (T'ung Pao "current coin").
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Step 4
Distinguish coins from charms. Many Chinese charms resemble coins for the good luck value inherent in wealth. The Chinese charms, however, will have animals, magical beings or more than four characters. These charms come in a multitude of designs and should not be purchased for more than a few dollars at the very most.
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Step 5
Use caution when purchasing ancient Chinese coins, since there is a thriving market in fakes. The safest method to avoid counterfeits is to buy only from certified ancient coin dealers. If the price is extremely low, however, or the coins are to be used in crafts, then buy them as a curiosity.
