Question 1

Why are ancient Chinese coins round with square holes?

Accepted Answer

The square hole let workers hold groups of cast coins on a square rod while filing their edges, and it allowed coins to be threaded for counting, carrying, and storage. Later culture associated the round exterior with heaven and circulation and the square centre with earth, order, and principle.

Question 2

Were all ancient Chinese coins made of copper?

Accepted Answer

No. Many cash coins are copper alloys such as bronze or brass, with changing amounts of tin, lead, zinc, and recycled metal. Iron cash was important in some regions and periods, especially during the Song. Color alone cannot identify the alloy or date.

Question 3

What is the difference between Ban Liang, Wu Zhu, and Kaiyuan Tongbao?

Accepted Answer

Ban Liang became the Qin imperial standard in 221 BCE and names a half-liang weight. Wu Zhu began under Han Emperor Wu in 118 BCE and names a five-zhu weight. Kaiyuan Tongbao was introduced by Tang Gaozu in 621 and replaced weight naming with a treasure inscription that influenced later East Asian coinage.

Question 4

Did Chinese charm coins circulate as money?

Accepted Answer

Charm coins were made mainly for auspicious, ritual, commemorative, festive, or decorative purposes rather than ordinary currency. Their inscriptions and images vary widely. Some boundaries are complicated by reuse or occasional exchange, but a charm should not be catalogued as a circulating coin from shape alone.

Question 5

Are Five Emperors coins an ancient fixed set?

Accepted Answer

The familiar set combines cash from the Qing reigns of Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Jiaqing. It is a later folk and collecting combination rather than one official ancient issue. Modern red-cord sets are best described as symbolic cultural objects.

Question 6

What does a red string with a Chinese coin mean?

Accepted Answer

Red cord adds festive, protective, and blessing symbolism, while the coin evokes prosperity, continuity, and circulation. Together they form a wearable or decorative good-wish object. Wrist direction, exact hanging time, and elemental “activation” rules are modern folk practices rather than universal tradition.

Question 7

Should I clean an old Chinese coin?

Accepted Answer

Leave a historical coin uncleaned until a numismatist or metals conservator assesses it. Polishing, brushing, scraping, hot-water soaking, vinegar, lemon juice, and chemical rust removers can remove patina, details, residues, and value. Stable surface layers are part of the object’s history.

Question 8

Is green rust on a coin dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Some green patinas are stable. Pale green powder that forms or returns in spots can indicate active chloride corrosion known as bronze disease. Isolate the coin, keep it in a dry stable environment, document the change, and consult a metals conservator instead of applying acid or picking the surface.

Question 9

Can an ancient Chinese coin be made into jewelry?

Accepted Answer

A common, stable, lawfully owned coin may sometimes be displayed in a reversible non-abrasive mount. Rare, fragile, archaeological, or historically significant coins should remain intact. Drilling, soldering, gluing, polishing, and tight settings cause irreversible loss; a replica or coin motif is usually better for daily wear.

Question 10

How can I verify a coin’s lawful provenance?

Accepted Answer

Ask for the ownership history, seller identity, invoices, old labels, prior photographs, find or collection records, and any required export documents. Check the laws of the discovery, sale, export, import, and destination countries. Avoid recently excavated coins with no documented legal source.

feng shui coins

Ancient Chinese Coins: History, Square-Hole Meaning, Identification, and Care

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