Thank you as usual for your help and time. This forum and website are unbelievable resources, and collecting would be much more difficult without the time you all put into this.
I am beginning to identify and put away my Chinese cash coins, and I find myself lost. For example, I have narrowed down one of the coins to this type: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces1133.html . However, I have no clue how to tell the types apart, since I am not sure how to tell when something is radical or when a head is rounded vs. protruding, for example. Is there a resource that has pictures of these different varieties, or can someone explain to me how to tell apart the varieties in a more basic way?
best would be to post pictures of your coin so we can see the variant.
Otherwise, you can still have a look at the book Cast Chinese Coins by David Hartill. You will find all the variants illustrated.
Sapientiae plerumque stultitia est comes.
Si c'est un grand plaisir d'être reconnu par ses amis, c'est peut-être encore plus flatteur d'être reconnu par ses adversaires.
Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
The problem with finding guides for Cash coins is that they require some familiarity with Chinese characters, and the varying script styles. The reign of the coin is usually represented by the top and bottom characters . The guides list all reigns first by the top character. Those characters are listed in order of the number of strokes taken to write the character, so roughly the simpler characters are at the beginning of the listing and the most complex ones at the end. Once the top character is located, a sublisting of the bottom characters with just a few choices, and then you have reference to the reign period plus catalog references. Usually the finding lists are for Chinese reigns alone, so you won't find Vietnamese, which are also common. Usually the finding lists show just the "standard" script, while some reigns use very wild script forms that look nothing like the standard script.
Cast Chinese Coins by Hartill, David. Now the standard catalog with most of the important types and varieties shown PLUS a finding list as described WITH the different script styles shown.
A Guide to Cash Coins, by Hartill Newer work. The catalog section is for cash coins NOT of the official series from the four main cash-issuing nations, so largely obscure stuff BUT the finding guide is the ultimate: shows actual coins so you have all the script styles on one page AND covers all cash coins, all sources, official and unofficial. References to Hartill's own works, but once you know the country & reign you can look it up online.
A Comprehensive Finding List of Chinese Cash by R.B. White Just China, partially shows script styles, and cross references to obsolete catalogs, but does give the reign. Virtue: cheap if you can find it, while the Hartill books are about $30 each.
Verweis : "pejounet"Hi,
best would be to post pictures of your coin so we can see the variant.
Otherwise, you can still have a look at the book Cast Chinese Coins by David Hartill. You will find all the variants illustrated.
Sorry if the lighting on these isn't great. I've been able to identify most of my other cash coins, but this one is tricky because of all the different variants.
