Chinese coin found. Anyone found one like it

[2108silver1]

Ok here is the story I found this deep by a sidewalk in a yard 1910 house on block that has older houses. I have idea of the date range 1700s to 1800s era and dynasty. I have examined it with my loop. Dosent seem to be a modern replica too jagged and crude of metal casting is evident. Too much work for a replica. Maybe I am wrong. I know you can see modern replicas sold as charms But They are well made and stamped. This isn't a real thick one. Weighs 3 grams. Just kinda trying to figure out if it's real. Anyone have any ideas. I know its not worth anything thats beside the point to me

 

[Steve]

I have never seen a center hole cut like that before. Is that some kind of rust or build up in the hole? Pretty sure it shouldn't be there.

 

[2108silver1]

Coin

These older ones were molded.

 

[Steve]

These older ones were molded.

Yeah but if it was used the rope/string it was attached to would have been cut by the sharp edges on the inside part.. I've never seen 1 of these before.

It looks legit but the inside hole with the sharp edges is different.

It translates to "qian long tong bao".
I've searched for this exact coin and haven't been able to find it.

So there's a chance it is very rare.. As I said I've never seen a center hole shaped like this before.

I've seen some of the old rare coins go for well over $10k.
More than likely a Chinese foreigner in America in the 1900's isn't likely to be carrying around a very rare coin in his pocket.
It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

[2108silver1]

Coin

Thank you for the info. Yeah I think it will be interesting also. It has strange oxidation on it I figure from different metals that made the coin. The reproductions seem to be clean stamped. Feng shui tokens etc. Pics of old ones when blown up the center is rough inside since they were molded

 

[2108silver1]

Found it

Chien lung. Dynasty1736 to 1796

 

[Tom_in_CA]

.... I've seen some of the old rare coins go for well over $10k.....

Huh ? In CA, a hardcore relic hunter (especially the hardcore guys in the gold rush country ) get HUNDREDS of these. To the point where we don't even look them up any more. Since none of them are ever valuable, and the dates on them have no bearing on when they were circulated/lost.

I have not heard of any being worth "$10k" (heck, even $1k). I suspect this is a super rare fluke. And not something the average md'r will ever find. Eh ?

Like saying some barber dimes fetch 1 million (the 1894-s). Yet, let's be honest, none of us will ever find that .

If I'm wrong, and there cash coins that are valuable (not just a single fluke), then : Can you link to where you're getting this info ? I've got dishes full to overflowing with cash coins. I'm literally giving them away, and never bother looking them up.

 

[woodbutcher]

You have one deep machine if your digging Chinese coins... Congrats

 

[atomicbrh]

That is a super find.
There was no point in something like that remaining in the ground to corrode.
You have to wonder about the many different people who handled that coin and how it arrived at the location where you found it.

 

[2108silver1]

Thank you

Thank you.. Yeah I don't care if it's worth anything. It is my treasure. It is the Oldest coin I have ever dug. A seated or barber is old as we have on a good day. Yeah I am glad I found it. Gotta love history. Its always fun researching what we find always a chance to learn more. And always fun the conversation on the forum here

 

[Steve]

Huh ? In CA, a hardcore relic hunter (especially the hardcore guys in the gold rush country ) get HUNDREDS of these. To the point where we don't even look them up any more. Since none of them are ever valuable, and the dates on them have no bearing on when they were circulated/lost.

I have not heard of any being worth "$10k" (heck, even $1k). I suspect this is a super rare fluke. And not something the average md'r will ever find. Eh ?

Like saying some barber dimes fetch 1 million (the 1894-s). Yet, let's be honest, none of us will ever find that .

If I'm wrong, and there cash coins that are valuable (not just a single fluke), then : Can you link to where you're getting this info ? I've got dishes full to overflowing with cash coins. I'm literally giving them away, and never bother looking them up.

From long before America was discovered.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

From long before America was discovered.

Huh ? You gonna let us know where someone can find out about these cash coins that are worth $10k ?

Here's a wager : If anyone here thinks these coins (ANY OF THEM) could be worth $10k, or $1k, etc.... , I'll make you a deal : I'll sell you as many as you want for a *mere* $100 each. None of them have been looked up, cherry-picked, nor scrutinized. A true grab-bag, straight from the ground.


Any takers ? I accept paypal.

 

[Steve]

Huh ? You gonna let us know where someone can find out about these cash coins that are worth $10k ?

Here's a wager : If anyone here thinks these coins (ANY OF THEM) could be worth $10k, or $1k, etc.... , I'll make you a deal : I'll sell you as many as you want for a *mere* $100 each. None of them have been looked up, cherry-picked, nor scrutinized. A true grab-bag, straight from the ground.


Any takers ? I accept paypal.

I live in China. As for finding one of these coins in the ground in America there is a better chance of getting hit by lightning while surfing in the rain on a Monday morning while a shark is biting your surfboard.

Even finding 1 of these coins while detecting is very very remote. They are usually found in tombs and on occasion caves hidden in the walls.
In all my years of detecting I've found maybe 3 coins worth more than $50... And 1 silver coin that was so crusted green I didn't even think it was silver.

 

[Steve]

Something like this will go for $10k. Well before America was discovered.

 

[Steve]

Huh ? You gonna let us know where someone can find out about these cash coins that are worth $10k ?

Here's a wager : If anyone here thinks these coins (ANY OF THEM) could be worth $10k, or $1k, etc.... , I'll make you a deal : I'll sell you as many as you want for a *mere* $100 each. None of them have been looked up, cherry-picked, nor scrutinized. A true grab-bag, straight from the ground.


Any takers ? I accept paypal.

Might want to check that stock pile again Tom.

This is the closest I found that has a "chance" of being found in the ground in the US. Goes for less than $5k but still a nice find.

 

[Bajanick]

I found a very similar Chinese Coin but the square hole was an actual square.

 

[Fredneck]

Cool find 2108 !

Steve these are found across America, the Chinese laborers working on early gold mines and the first railroads left these behind. The sample you provided certainly doesn't look like it was found in the ground and if it was, it's been over cleaned, which means it loses value. This example I dug 50 yards off a Pre- Civil War railroad, and it's not the first recovered in our area.

 

[Rattlehead]

I find those occasionally. Found this one last week.

 

[Steve]

there are literally dozens and dozens and dozens of varieties. a snall fraction are worth more than a few bucks. the chances of a migrant worker carrying one in his pocket, and still in decent condition, is almost nil. some look identical to each other but there are different sizes... some common , some rare, some extremely rare.
as I've said i live in china and have found hundreds of.these... only a few worth anything and only 1 i would consider having graded.

the photo of the coin from above is from a website that sells old coins. this was the 1st to pop out that looked similar worth some $

 

[Cord]

Ok here is the story I found this deep by a sidewalk in a yard 1910 house on block that has older houses. I have idea of the date range 1700s to 1800s era and dynasty. I have examined it with my loop. Dosent seem to be a modern replica too jagged and crude of metal casting is evident. Too much work for a replica. Maybe I am wrong. I know you can see modern replicas sold as charms But They are well made and stamped. This isn't a real thick one. Weighs 3 grams. Just kinda trying to figure out if it's real. Anyone have any ideas. I know its not worth anything thats beside the point to me

Hello and hiho 2108silver1,
Just the other day (26 July 2025) I found this coin on the sidewalk here in London.
Decided to check it out online and after looking at umpteen different Chinese coins I finally found yours here at mdforum.
All script on our coins is alike -- virtually identical. As to which is a modern replica, well that is up for debate.
It may be that your coin is a crude attempt at copying, which would account for the jagged edges within the square, or if yours is truly ancient that could explain the roughness in its manufacture. My coin (image attached) looks to be more carefully produced, with sharper lines all round, but the catch is that this may indicate a late forgery!
I really cannot say, but I was pleased to find such an excellent match.
Hope this is of some help to you, and if anything interesting develops, please let me know.