Asian coin ID help

had these given to me about 10 years ago, im a bit of an idiot when it comes to asain coins, large  38 mm in dia

(deleted the images so the thread wouldnt be so long)


also the catalog has been a great help in identifying coins i could not find in the past

Hey there Emmit.

These are Chinese dollars during the Kuang-hsu era (early 1900's).

Unfortunately, it is common for people to counterfeit these coins as they are rare. Usually one in fine condition can go up for $50 at least.

I don't know if you got the bottom two right, because the pictures with the side with the dragon "Shen-si" are exactly the same. It would most likely be fake anyway. The middle coin is the Shensi, so upload the right photo for the bottom one please.

The first one with the charm and the two dragons is supposed to symbolize longevity. Usually these are seen on counterfeited Tael coins, and nto commonly on dollar coins. I think this one's fake too.

I'm sorry if this disappoints you. Yet again, you can sell them on eBay or melt them down for bullion value, if there is any silver at all.

the bottom one is AN-HWEI province, got the photos mixed up, i may have got them all mixed up, will try again, enen if they are fakes there is nothing lost, as i mentioned they were given to me, i have 5 of these, 3 are identical and vary in the amount of wear on them, if faked do you have any idea of what time period they may have been produced? thanks smartone

Selling coins on eBay which are counterfeit is a violation of the Hobby Protection Act which requires any such coins to be stamped with the word "copy" or "replica". eBay policies also require complance and the title must include the words.

Yeah, i't not vigorously enforced as eBay are too busy counting their money to worry about something as trivial as their customers getting fleeced, but collectors do report fakes. The US Secret Service has the responsibilty for enforcement rather than the Treasury as one would expect.

PayPal have an even more stringent policy towards fakes - the buyer keeps the coin (as it would be borderline illegal to return it via USPS) AND they get a full refund including shipping. This is being fully exploited by several enterprising individuals.

This is meant in general terms and not directed towards the OP. I have no idea if the coins are genuine or fake, it's outside my area of interest.

have sold coins on ebay in the past, i would never knowingly sell a fake, could kick myself in the butt for selling some of my gold coins a few years ago, if there fake and have silver content they go into the melt pot, if sold they will be listed as counterfit. thanks for the info pnightingale

ok, lets try this again, heres a do over, maybe ive gt it right this time, posting all 5 coins this time so i can keep it right











maybe ive got it right this time, what gives them away as fakes smartone? if thats the case

Number two might be real.

It says year 23 of Kuang-hsu, or 1897. It's Y#45.1.

Here's how you can tell if they're real or fake:

Put them out in the air for a few weeks and see if they tarnish. I've received a lot of two Chinese coins from eBay. One of them was obviously fake because it had Hupeh on one side and Chekiang on the other. But the other one, which was a Sinkiang 3 Mace 6 Candareens (50c), tarnished a little on the dragon and the edges.

Try it yourself. I'm pretty sure the first one isn't real, because it says Kwang-tung on one side and has a tael design on the other. The Shen-si coins have the correct designs, but they were patterns and were not issued.

Tell me how the tarnishing works out, and if it does, it may be real.

Just two examples from physics and chemistry.The simplest way to test if its silver or not - just using the magnet. Another way needs in silver nitrate (AgNO3) - just rub the coin. In case of copper-containing alloy the black spot emerges

thanks folks, great help

Actually the first one is correct in design. It is a very rare coin minted for the birthday or something of the Kuang-Hsü Emperor. Worth about 150,000USD last time I saw. Before you get excited though, make sure it is decently heavy. Also, the two dragons seem off, seriously doubt it's real. The characters are also not sharp enough for this special coin.

Quote: fliegendehollanderActually the first one is correct in design. It is a very rare coin minted for the birthday or something of the Kuang-Hsü Emperor. Worth about 150,000USD last time I saw. Before you get excited though, make sure it is decently heavy. Also, the two dragons seem off, seriously doubt it's real. The characters are also not sharp enough for this special coin.

Мost coins  look like modern replicas made in China for the tourists

Hello, I need a little help identifying my coin.  following are two images, front and back. The coin is silver, it has "An-Hwei province one tael" ont the front, and measures about 45mm across.  Thank you for any help.

Looks like a cheap Chinese production, aimed at selling to those who know nothing about coins. Though silver is rather cheap today and is used to make some fakes, I am 99% sure that this is not even silver.
Here are a few Anhwei coins, so that you could get the feeling how a real coin should look.
http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=Anhwei+&category=1-2&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&images=1&currency=usd&order=0&company=    

Thanks you for the reply Andrey. I am afraid the pictures are not very good. When I look the the coins you directed me too, the coloration and oxidation looks exactly the same. Assuming that it is a reproduction, could you still help me with the date and a little more about the coin?  Thank you again... andrew  (I have included a better image of the coin)

I do not even wonder if such coins are real!
They are all made in little shops in China and do not contain any valuable metals.

You can see they started to rust.
Watch out for rust because these coins are so poor in quality they rust really quick.

There does not seem to be any rust, it is a bluish tarnish like any silver would turn if exposed to the air for a long time.  It looks well worn.  But what I am really asking is; can anyone tell me what it says on the reverse of the coin!

I dare you to put the coin in water  for one day  

Anyway, i can't find the coin, probably because it's a fantasy coin, without actually copying a real coin.

into the water it goes...

Kommodore, it has been more than a day and the coin is still in the water.  When I take it out to inspect it, still silver with dark bluish tarnish...

Lately Chinese fakes are mostly made of non-magnetic alloys, therefore this one might not rust. This does not make it real though.
Here is a very similar fantasy Tael, with the only difference that it claims to be of Yunnan province.
http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=30626

And this is a piece just like yours with somebody loosing about 11 GBP on it.
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Antique-Unusual-Chinese-AN-HWEI-Province-ONE-TAEL-Dragon-Gaming-Counter-Coin-/391038224682

Thank you Andrey for the information and references.  I think I will take it out of the water! Well, I am not sure where to go from here so I think I will just put the coin away for now.  Thanks again... Andrew

You also can try the 'ring' test.
Put the coin on the tip of your finger and tap it gently with something plastic.
Try the same with a real silver coin to hear the difference.
Here is how:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jar_5HSgA2k
but I do not use gloves and I tap it with something plastic

or: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ring+test+silver

Hi PetrusAscanus, i did the test you suggested and it pings very hi sweet sound and for a long time. Me, I think it is silver.

Quote: axeniosHi PetrusAscanus, i did the test you suggested and it pings very hi sweet sound and for a long time. Me, I think it is silver.

silver, sure...why you can not accept?  this coin is a FAKE.

The high sweet tone is for me indeed an indication that it is fake.
Silver has a little bit other hihg sound.
These kind of coins are almost Always fakes.
I have never seen a real one.
It is indeed sometimes hard to accept it is fake. We all hope for a real one   

Some people 'dare' me to put it in water.. I do, and no rust. Others tell me to do the 'ping' test, I do and it pings... Even after passing the 'tests' everyone cries 'fake.' What was the point in telling me to do these tests?

I have lots of those beauties, but they all failed the magnet test. Though they're so beautiful that I don't care at all.    

You are correct. I also have a little collection of fakes/replicas.
Bt it is good to know that they are fake.

All of those coins are ultra fake Chinese rubbish that would fool only the most gullible.

 

They are so bad I am laughing my head off.