Moneta's Temple and Gallery

China - Lead imitation cowrie

Moneta — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 17:30:58 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: The Chinese cataloger states that this is an early lead type from the Zhou Dynasty manufactured before 750 B.C.E. It's 13 x 30 mm and weighs 6.67 g. Hartill has a related type as H# 1.2, VF and retains burial deposits.

China - Green Bone imitation cowrie, encased

Moneta — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:50:36 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Here's another green bone cowrie, this one encased in China. The label states "Pre-Qin [dynasty] Shanxi Bone Shell." This is 40.1 x 12.2 mm and weighs 1.39 g.

China - Green Bone imitation cowrie

Moneta — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 16:41:45 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Green bone cowries are scarcer than natural colored ones and are often well craved. The green color comes from being found in or near bronze burial vessels. This one has two small holes and is 32 x 21mm.

Zhou Silver covered Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 16:52:56 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: ZHOU: Anonymous, 1000-700 BC, silvered AE cowrie (6.09g), H-1, silvered bronze imitation cowrie shell money, usual encrustation, EF, ex Dr. Dirk Löer Collection. Cowrie shells, in Chinese called bèi, were used as money probably since around 2000 BC, from the Shang dynasty up through the Zhou dynasty. The cowries were an intelligent solution to make "small money" because they were collected in seas far south of China and only kings could afford to import them. Furthermore natural shells were impossible to counterfeit. Later imitations were made of various materials: bone, stone, jade, clay, bronze, and even silver and bronze with gold plating. [Steve Album Auction site for photo and text]. After many years of collecting these this is the first silver covered bronze cowrie I have ever seen (rather than plated or solid). So this is a borrowed photo to ensure I have the most complete Museum of cowries and their imitations on the web.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Red Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:34:58 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12); Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Kucha, Xinjiang mint. Rev: Ushi left, right, Kushi (Ku[che] Ten) above and below, strange calligraphy. Hartill #22.1521; 3.2 g., 25 mm., cast 1909 only. Note in David Hartill's "Cast Chinese Coins": Although there are no more records of Ushi casting after the Jiaqing period, there is a Xuantong coin with Ushi on the reverse. This must have been cast by Kucha (the only mint still casting red cash at that time) on behalf of Ushi, although, normally the name of the mint that carried out the casting is on the left/right. In the absence of similar coins, it would seem that this was cast as a result of a normal shortage of cash in the Ushi area, rather than as a 'ji yuan' commemorative issue.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:24:14 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12). Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Yunnan province mint. Rev: Boo yun left and right, however, here the character above hole is missing from the type found on Hartill # 22.1520 (a)(No Letter above hole); 1.7 g., 18 mm. See next example for a standard H# 22.1520

China - Xuantong (Puyi) cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:19:30 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12). Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Yunnan province mint. Rev: Boo yun left and right, character above hole possibly for 'kuang' (mine). Hartill # 22.1520; 1.8 g., 18 mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:12:53 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12); Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Yunnan province mint. Rev: Boo yun left and right. Rev: shan above. 1909-1911. Hartill # 22.1519 type, 1.6 g; 17 mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) machine struck cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:06:05 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12); Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Guangzhou, Guangdong mint, machine struck. Rev: Boo guwang left and right. Hartill # 22.1518; nominal weight 3.2 fen, 16 mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) machine struck cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:06:05 -0400

China - Xuantong (Puyi) machine struck cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:01:00 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Puyi (1909-12). Obv: Xuan Tong tong bao; Fuzhou, Fujian mint, machine struck coin. Rev: Boo fu left and right. Nominal weight 4 fen. Hartill # 22.1517; 1.1 g.; 15mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) machine struck cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 23:01:00 -0400

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:55:35 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. OB: Xuan Tong tong bao; Board of Revenue mint, North Branch. Rev: Boo chiowan left and right. Hartill # 22.1516; 4.2 g.; 23 mm

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:51:50 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. OB: Xuan Tong tong bao; Board of Revenue mint, West Branch. Rev: Boo chiowan left and right. Larger coin, diam. ~24mm. Cast 1909 only? Hartill # 22.1515; 4.8 g., 23 mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:43:52 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. OB: Xuan Tong tong bao; Board of Revenue mint, North branch. Rev: Boo chiowan left and right; w/ protruding head boo. Hartill # 22.1514; 2.4 g, 19 mm.

China - Xuantong (Puyi) Cash

Moneta — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:38:50 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. OB: Xuan Tong tong bao (1909 - 1910); Board of Revenue mint, West Branch. Rev: Boo chiowan left and right. Six fen nominal weight. One dot tong. Hartill# 22.1513, 19 mm, 2.2 g.

China - Straight Knife Money, Zhao

Moneta — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:48:39 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. These were issued in a few places within the State of Zhao between 300 - 250 B.C.E. Here is an example of Hartill # 4.75 which are described as Type 6, Straight Knife Money. This example weights 5.6 g. and measures 140 x 16 mm. Bottom specimen is 114 mm x 12 mm. Hartill # 4.75. Obverse characters are "Lin" which is a place name. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Straight Knife Money, Zhao (2 examples)

Moneta — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 20:22:23 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. These were issued in a few places within the State of Zhao between 300 - 250 B.C.E. Here are two examples of Hartill # 4.60 which are described as Type 6, Straight Knife Money. The top example weights 9.6 g. and measures 140 x 16 mm. Bottom specimen is 149 mm x 17 mm. Hartill # 4.60. Obverse characters are 'Bai Bi' (Bai [Ren] coin. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Ming Knife Money, State of Qi or Yan

Moneta — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 19:44:37 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is an example of Ming Knife money (Type 5). Hartill #4.45 These knives take their name from the obverse character "Ming." There are many different reverse characters documented in David Hartill's "Cast Chinese Coins." This knife is 116mm x 16 mm. A hoard of these knives was found at Jiaqing in Boshan in eastern Shandong. Current research has these cast between 284 and 279 B.C.E. by the State of Yan while it occupied most of the territory of Qi. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Pointed Tip Knife Money, State of Yan

Moneta — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:42:27 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is an example of Pointed Tip Knife money (Type 3). Here the obverse character is 'Ba' (eight). These knives are well documented in David Hartill's "Cast Chinese Coins." Like most knife coins these are mainly found in the NE of China, this type is associated with the State of Yan. This knife is 20 cm x 14.8 mm. Hartill # 4.17

China - Ming Knife Money

Moneta — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:55:42 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is an example of Ming Knife money (Type 4). Waiting clarification on Hartill #4.x These knives take their name from the obverse character "Ming" which looks much like a human eye. There are many different reverse characters documented in David Hartill's "Cast Chinese Coins." This knife is 13.5 cm x 15 mm. A mint for these knives has been found in Xiadu, to the southwest of Peking. They've been found across a number of Chinese provinces, Korea and even Japan. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Qi Knife Money from Shandong

Moneta — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:35:55 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T.P. Collection. David Hartill describes this series of Type 1 knife as being attributed to the State of Qi in the Shandong province region. Archaeological information indicates that the Qi knives are from the Warring States period (400 - 220 B.C.). This example appears to have 5 or 6 characters. OB: An Yang Zhi Fa Hua (An Yang's Legal Money); the reverse can be found with 11 different characters, here the reverse (type 'j') is the character 'gong.' The width here is 2.5 cm x 18 cm. Hartill # 4.1 j

China - Hollow Handled Pointed Shoulder Spade money

Moneta — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 18:16:18 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is a nice long hollow handled spade money, Type 3, with Pointed Shoulders (500 - 400 B.C.). These types are found in N.E. Henan and Shanxi provinces, territory of the Duchy of Jin, then later Zhao. This Hartill # 3.182 is a slightly smaller version with no inscriptions. This example is 25.2 grams, size 139 mm x 65 mm wide at tip of points. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Arched Foot Spade money

Moneta — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:53:04 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is a flat handled spade, Type 1 of the Arched Foot type (400 - 300 B.C. ). OB: "An Yi Er Jin" (An Yi two Jin), here the inscription is inverted; Rx: plain. These wonderful types are associated with the State of Liang (aka Wei) and the State of Han. Hartill # 3.10 has the following note: "In the Warring States Period An Yi, in S.W. Shanxi, was the capital of the State of Liang (Wei). This specimen is 27.9 grams and 41 x 65 mm. Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Pointed foot Spade - Zhao

Moneta — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:33:57 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Part of the family of flat handled spade money, this Type 2 is a Pointed Foot spade (350 - 250 B.C.) from the State of Zhao. This a smaller type, OB: "Da Yin" with characters on the left. This is example is 4.3 grams and 52 x 30 mm. Hartill #3.62 Some of the earliest money was made in China, where coins were cast in the shape of tools such as spades and knives. Utilitarianly worthless, these token objects recollected real implements with actual utility value, items that had traditionally been bartered for livestock and land. The change to a make-believe version in the 7th century BCE increased commerce by easing exchange “ i.e., friction was reduced by lightning the load“ but these coins reminded people at every trade that money was merely symbolic. Knife and spade money arguably countered the abstraction of wealth and the concomitant distortion of values. [NNP, Newman Numismatic Portal article]

China - Square Foot spade

Moneta — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 17:17:31 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Square Foot spade of the Dang Jin type (350 - 250 B.C.). OB: "Pei Bi Dang Jin" with the top two characters reversed. 33 grams and 103 mm tall. Hartill # 3.471

China - Solid Bronze Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:21:41 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P.Collection. This rare cowrie is the solid metal type. It's size is unknown and may be a type from Thailand. I think Opitz places these as being made in Burma and extremely rare.

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China - White Stone Casket Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:17:13 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Often cowries are found with this casket like shape. this one is 18 x 12 mm and hails from Xiajiadan.

China - Gray Bone Cowrie Money

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:14:02 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This cowrie with unusual gray color is 23.4 x 18mm in size. Cabachon top style, perpendicular cross lines, 2 holes about 2 mm = small size.

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China - Split Domed Bone Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:11:36 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This nicely toned brown bone with a prominent cut is 20.2 x 15.8 mm. Note central beveled groove, suggestive of maker, no hole.

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Chine - Brown Bone Cowrie Money

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:08:43 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. A nicely domed brown bone cowrie that's 21.5 x 15.5 mm. Cabachon top style, perpendicular cross lines, 2 holes about 3 mm = medium size; note rounded bottom of drilled holes.

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China - Green Bone Cowrie Money

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:06:38 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This excellent green bone cowrie (stained by the bronze burial vessel) is 21 x 18 mm. Flat top style, perpendicular cross lines, one hole about 6 mm = medium size.

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China - Bone Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:04:14 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This one is 22.4 x 17.1 mm. Flat top style, angled cross lines, one hole about 6 mm = medium size.

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China - Bone Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:02:45 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. 21 x 15 mm. Flat top style, slight angled cross lines, one hole about 6 mm = medium size, an unusual green bone cowrie.

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Chine - Bone Cowrie

Moneta — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 20:00:54 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Nicely made bone that's 19 x 14.9 mm. Note central beveled groove, suggestive of maker.

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China - Xian Feng 100 Cash; Yeriyang, Xinjiang

Moneta — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 16:37:08 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Emperor Wen Zong, red copper 100 Cash from Xinjiang, 1854 - 1859. OB: Xian Feng Yuan bao; Rx: Dang bai (value 100), Er bao. Size varies considerably, this example is 44 mm at 23.8 g.; possibly FAKE. Hartill# 22.1114.

China - Xian Feng 100 Cash, Board of Works

Moneta — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 16:20:46 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Emperor Wen Zong, March 1854 - July 1855. OB: Xian Feng Yuan bao; Rx: Dang bai (value 100), Boo yuwan (Fou bao). One liang, 4 gian. Board of Works mint, old branch. 50mm, 47.56 g.; Hartill 'Qing' # 6.139; Hartill# 22.762.

China - Xian Feng 50 Cash - Board of Revenue

Moneta — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 16:07:14 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Emperor Wen Zong Xian Feng Zhong bao (Emp. Wen Zhong); Rx: Dang Wu shi (value 50) (Er bao), Boo chiowan. Type 'M'; Board of Revenue, South branch mint. 55 mm, 58.07 g., brass. Hartill# 22.703

China - Xian Feng 50 Cash; Jizhou, Zhili

Moneta — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:19:08 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Zhong bao; Rx: Dang Wu Shi (value 50); Boo gi. ~44 mm; 40.5 g. Hartill# 22.1069

China - Xian Feng 50 Cash, Zhejiang

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 21:47:21 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng zhong bao; Hangzhou, Zhejiang (Trial Issue); Rx: Dang Wushi, Boo je; broad rim. Emp. Wen Zong. HQing# 26.72; Hartill# 22.1043. 52 mm, 54.3 g; see note in Hartill "Chinese Cash" p.230

China - Xian Feng 100 Cash, Shaanxi

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 21:40:05 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Yuan Bao; Xi'an, Shaanxi; Emp. Wen Zong; Rx: Dang bai, Boo shan; Local pattern.60 mm, 67.9g

China - Xian Feng 500 Cash, Shaanxi

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 21:37:28 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Yuan Bao (w/o official 'guan' stamp). Rx: Dang wubai (value 500), Boo shan. Local pattern - Appears to be a fake! 65mm, 117 g, copper, should be brass.

China - Xian Feng 100 Cash - Suzhou, Jiangsu

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 21:29:51 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Yuan bao (medium 'bao'); Rx: Dang bai (value 100), Boo su. 62mm, 68.6 g.

China - Xian Feng 100 Cash - Wuchang, Hubei

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 20:31:01 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Zhong bao; Rx: Dang wushi (value 100), Boo u. HQing# 15.69; Hartill# 22.867

China - Xian Feng 100 Cash, Henan

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 20:25:37 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Yuan bao; Rx: Dang bai (value 100), Boo he. 45.7 g, 49mm. Hartill# 22.849, or HQing# 14.22. Local issue type.

China - Xian Feng 50 Cash - Gansu

Moneta — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 20:20:32 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Xian Feng Zhong bao; Rx: Dang wushi (value 50), Boo gung, with 'curved gung'. Gongchang, Gansu (Kansu). 35.2 g, 48 mm. Hartill# 22.807

China - Stone Cowrie Money

Moneta — Tue, 03 May 2022 18:58:12 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This stone example is 18.6 x 12.2 mm. Hartill # 1.2, but made of white stone.

China - Bronze Imitation Cowrie

Moneta — Tue, 03 May 2022 18:55:22 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. Really nice bronze imitation cowries are scarcer than you might think. This one is 23.5 x 16 mm and 2 g.

China - Stone with Tortoise Shell Engraving

Moneta — Tue, 03 May 2022 18:50:12 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is a very unusual type in that it doesn't imitate a cowrie shell but rather the shell of a turtle or tortoise. One could infer here a symbolic throwback to the ancient Chinese divining method of heating tortoise shells and throwing them in water to divine the future, or the path to be followed, from the cracks formed in the shell. This rare piece is 10 x 16 and 1.8 g.

China - Stone Cowrie with large cavity

Moneta — Tue, 03 May 2022 18:42:51 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: T. P. Collection. This is an unusual variety with a single slit hole at the bottom of a large cavity, the stone here is a softer type, probably stained limestone. It's 27.8 X 20.5 mm and 5.7 g. A distinctive variety, somewhat realistic carving of shell, one reverse hole 10 mm; transverse slits carved asymmetrically, not simply straight across which is typical for carved cowrie.

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