How to Identify Vintage Chinese Coins

China has a history of coinage stretching back more than 2000 years. Most vintage Chinese coins feature a hole in the middle. The holes were used to string coins together. Large strings of copper coins were used to buy everyday objects. Coins also were made of gold, silver and bronze. All featured distinctive markings in Chinese calligraphy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vintage Chinese coins

1. Match the inscriptions on the front of the coin to known markings on vintage Chinese coins. Inscriptions typically denote the name of the emperor's reign and the type of coin.

2. Look for markings on the back of the coin. Many vintage Chinese issues are blank on this side. Others may have a brief inscription.

3. Examine Ming and Ch'ing Dynasty coins for mint marks and denominations. The mint mark appears as an abbreviation on the reverse of many Ch'ing coins.

4. Compare the different styles of script to determine authenticity. Various forms of orthodox and seal script were used on different issues. Ch'ing coins sometimes bear text in Manchu characters.

5. Inspect the individual letters in the different inscriptions. Often, the characters on vintage Chinese coins are written in an unusual manner.

Tips & Warnings

• Compare the mint names on vintage Chinese coins with known mints during a given emperor's reign.
• Vintage Chinese coins were cast, not stamped or hammered like Western coins. Stamped or hammered coins are reproductions or counterfeits.

References

• Ch'ing Dynasty Coins
• Northern Song Dynasty Coins
• Chinese Coins Markings