File:1 Sho - Xuantong Baozang (宣統寶藏) - Scott Semans 02.jpg

English: CHINESE DYNASTIC COINAGE

PHOTO Y# DESCRIPTION PRICE

QIAN LONG SILVER :     (1792-96) Dot in square s. Qian Long Tong Bao, 4 clouds s. Chinese year at compass points separated by dots, R: same in Tibetan; Dodpal Mint. The Yr. 58 1/2 Tangka has crescent in square vs. dot. For Yr. 58 four denominations were made, distinguishable only by size and weight: 1/2 Sho (5 Fen) 19-21mm, ±1.7-1.9gm; 1/2 Tanga (3/4 Sho) 21-22mm, ±2.6-2.8gm; Sho (Qian) ±3.45-3.87gm; Tanga (1 1/2 Qian) ±5.3-5.7gm. Variable sizes in the Qian Long Sho and Tangka create subtypes. For later years only the Sho was issued. Yr. 58 coins may have been struck later as well, to honor the year of conquest. Rhodes (SH100, referring to the Jia Qing Yr. 8-9 issues) believes that the variation in number of dots in the margins was deliberate and reflects mint organization.    Informational Photos: 1/2 SHO    3/4 SHO    SMALL SHO    MEDIUM SHO, Yr. 58    MEDIUM SHO, Yr. 59    MEDIUM SHO, Yr. 60    LARGE SHO    LARGE TANGKA JIA QING SHO :     (1796-1820) Dot in square s. Jia Qing Tong Bao, 4 clouds s. Chinese year at compass points separated by dots, R: same in Tibetan; Dodpal Mint. JQ = Bertsch, Gabrisch & Rhodes, "A Study of Sino-Tibetan Coins of the Jia Qing Era," J. East Asian Numismatics #7 (V. 2 #4, 1995), pp. 23-34. The sloppy engraving found after about JQ2 or 3 is explained by some of the Chinese mint workers having been called back. The large number of unintentional varieties, particularly for Yr. 25, could be classified differently or in greater detail. Dots are shown as O/R, or O top + bottom /R top + bottom. Yrs. 2-6 are rare.     Informational Photos: Yr. 1 VARIETIES    Yr. 5    Yr. 24 VARIETIES    Yr. 25 VARIETIES #1    Yr. 25 VARIETIES #2    Yr. 8 VARIETIES    SHO Yr. 9 TYPES DAO GUANG SHO :     (1821-50) Dot in square s. Dao Guang Tong Bao, 4 clouds s. Chinese year at compass points separated by dots, R: same in Tibetan; Dodpal Mint. For two-digit dates, number of dots in each location are coded as: Obv L + R + Bottom / Rev L + R + Bottom.      Informational Photos: Yr. 2 VARIETIES    Yr. 3 VARIETIES    Yr. 4 VARIETIES    Yr. 15 VARIETIES XUAN TONG SILVER :     (1910), Xuan Tong Bao Zhang, R: coiled dragon, denomination & Xuan-tong legends, 1 Sho: ±21.4-21.8mm, ±3.3-4.0g; 2 Sho: 24.6-25.2mm, ±6.4-8.1g, Dode Mint. Varieties: 1 Sho: Number of beads in central circles (20-24 obv), and orientation of 5-petal flower varies; 2 Sho: Number of beads in circles varies (24-32 obv).     Informational Photos: SHO VARIETIES    2 SHO VARIETIES

XUAN TONG 1/4 SHO :     Norbu in square s. Xuan Tong, year 1 (1909), denomination, in Tibetan, in quadrants of square, s. rosettes & clouds, R: Concentric circles, dots s. LEGEND in fleur. with arcs between, 25.8mm, 5.8-7.6-9.0?g, Dode Mint. The most obvious varieties are by size of inner square and petal (obv.) and inner circle (rev.); Bertsch shows a variety with dot in inner circle. The crescents to fleur., and fleur. to outer circle may connect, or not. All published varieties appear to be brass.    Informational Photos: 1/4 SHO VARIETIES    1/4 SHO FORGERIES .