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Likely Chinese numismatic charm, sold as a silk road coin- opinions welcome

Started by SilkroadDilettante, February 28, 2024, 04:38:29 AM

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SilkroadDilettante

So after my Kushan disappointment, I decided to buy the one other 'coin' that caught my eye today. This (like most of the coins I am browsing when looking for jitals) was simply listed as a 'silk road coin' with no more info on ID. Seller specified it to be 26mm by 1mm thick.

Having said that, I don't think this is the case. To me it looks quite Chinese- possibly a Liao/Jin charm or some sort of token, though the dating is only a very, very rough guess currently. I will send pics to a Chinese numinast friend here and see what he says, but opinions are welcome; if it is a Chinese numismatic charm then I got a real bargain; I have three I have picked up over the years- all fake!- but this one appears to be old and rather finely done.

As far as I'm aware, no central/south coins look remotely like this? If I can rule this out I think Chinese numismatic charm is probably what it is- though this is not an area I am very familiar with. I'd be surprised the seller mis-identified it, to be honest.

THCoins

Especially the hairdo of the lady looks Chinese or Japanese.
Whatever the origin, very nice object !

Figleaf

Been looking at the head cover also, but checked emperors first (no sign of breasts). No luck. Males seem to have enjoyed naked ears. Nothing like it among female royalty, though a sort of boomerang-shaped headdress worn by Qin women started to look like it.

Could the material be tin or zinc?

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Guillaume Hermann

Conférences à l'école, collectivité, ou domicile, avec mes objets de collection manipulables par le public, sur des sujets d'Histoire et SVT.
https://le-musee-en-classe.jimdosite.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551887348487
https://www.linkedin.com/company/le-musée-en-classe/about/

SilkroadDilettante

Quote from: Guillaume Hermann on March 02, 2024, 12:59:43 PMHi,

Here is Queen Myeongseong of Korea

Hi all,

My Chinese friend got back to me and this is- apparently- a folk charm made during the late Qing/ROC era, so circa 100-150 years old. He told me it's tin/pewter and not bronze, in which case it is not very collectible. Having said that, still a new sight for me. Izi.

Figleaf

Quote from: SilkroadDilettante on March 04, 2024, 03:43:59 PMHe told me it's tin/pewter and not bronze.

If it is tin, I think I have seen some of these before. The ones I saw originated in French Indo China. They were popular for keeping score at card games (like an exotic reply to the "To Hanover" pieces in the UK) in France, Belgium and the Netherlands) or as collectable exotica but they are much more vulnerable to breaking.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.