CHINA 5 CASH RARE 1851-1861 Changte Mint Cast Brass Krause #6-2, Type A

-CHINA 5 Cash, cast brass, Krause (1983) #6-2, Type A, Emperor Xian Feng (or in the older Wade-Giles transcription, Hsien Feng), also known as Wenzong, 7^th emperor of the Ch’ing dynasty, 1851-1861, Hunan Province, Changte Mint. Inscription: (obverse) Xian Feng Zhong Bao (Heavy Treasure of Emperor Xian Feng); (reverse) Dangshi Wu (Equal to 5 Cash). It is to be noted that the size of these coins often varies even among coins of the same value. (See Qin Cao, An Introduction and Identification Guide to Chinese Qing-Dynasty Coins, n.d., p.18, also David Hartill, Cast Chinese Coins: A Historical Catalogue, 2005, 333ff).

-This coin appears to have seen a reasonable amount of circulation (see photos).

-Normally cast brass Chinese cash coins are denominated as 1 cash (legally 1/1000^th Silver Tael, although in reality values usually varied between 800 and 1600 depending upon time and place). However due to inflation caused by a shameless spending spree during the reign of Emperor Xian Feng, a large quantity of cash coins were issued bearing higher denominations.

-This coin is among the rarer Chinese cash coins and is valued by Krause (1983) between $25 and $100 depending upon condition.

 

Ref.E2-120-SB-CB-005