I have the coin pictured below. It weighs 8g, has a diameter of 30mm, and a thickness of around 1.5mm. to my untrained eye, it looks like this one in the Numista catalog:
A counterfeit is a copy of an authentic coin that is sufficiently similar to be able to deceive the collector.
That is not the case here cause there was no similar circulating similar coin.
Chinese love these big coins. This type of coin imitating ancient Chinese coins is traditionally used as currency for Feng Shui, or for Yi King (or Yi-Jing), one of the oldest divinatory arts. They are used as an amulet interceding for the financial prosperity of the owner and his family. The round shape of the coin symbolizes the sky, and the hole in the center of the Chinese coin represents the earth. There are multiple very precise rules to follow for these amulets to be effective and promote your prosperity.
For example you can choose to put one of these coins in the mouth of a three-legged prosperity toad (it only has one back leg). In addition to being a symbol of prosperity and wealth, it can also ensure you a long life. He is sometimes depicted with one of the eight immortals of Taoism, representing longevity and wisdom.
There are many variations and stories that tell the origin of this famous toad. One of the popular versions says that on the moon, alongside Liu Hai*, the god of wealth and coins lived a three-legged toad. This one with the ability to be able to make gold and silver appear from his mouth. Another version says that the toad is none other than Chang E, the goddess of the moon, after having tried to steal the elixir of immortality from her husband. Yet another story says that lunar eclipses are explained by the fact that the prosperity toad swallows the moon at these times.
*Liu Hai is one of the most popular members of the Chinese pantheon and represents prosperity and wealth. There are several versions of the story that have gone through history. Liu Hai was a minister of state during the 10th century in China. He was also a practitioner of Taoism. One version of the story has it that he became friends with a three-legged toad that had the fabulous ability to take its owner to any destination. This toad not only loved water but also gold. If the toad escaped into a well, Liu Hai could easily pull it out using a line baited with gold coins.
Rules concerning the toad are precise :
- Where to place my 3-legged toad ? First of all, the best is to place your prosperity toad on a table or piece of furniture, avoid placing it on the floor. You should also avoid placing it too high in the room. You can place your statuette in many places, your living room, your office, your workplace or a room where you like to work. However, avoid other places unsuitable for work such as the toilets, the kitchen or even your bedroom. If you want to place several feng shui toads in your room, then it is advisable to place 3, 5 or 9. These are the lucky feng shui numbers. It is also recommended to take care of your item. Your prosperity toad being an auspicious object, you should not hesitate to take care of it, dusting it or placing it in a good place are good examples.
Here are placement suggestions in accordance with feng shui, in addition to the important recommendations regarding the orientation of the four cardinal points which we will not mention here because it would take us too far :
- Near the front door : First, you can place your prosperity toad at the entrance to your home in order to invite good energies to enter. You can put the toad towards the door, but not directly facing the door (important nuance !) You can also put it next to the entrance, oriented towards a diagonal of your house. - On a desk : Whether it is an office outside your home or an office in your home, do not hesitate to place a feng shui toad on it as a decoration. This will attract prosperity and income to your business. This location for the toad is best if you want the toad to help you with your finances. - In a garden : It is entirely possible to add a prosperity toad statuette to your garden decoration or simply to your exterior. You can place it almost anywhere, as long as there is greenery. This position brings good health from the outside world.
- In your wallet : Finally, even it may seem a little strange at first, it is entirely possible to put a representation of the fengshui toad through an image in your portfolio. This location may be the most special, but it is nonetheless very good because it is in your wallet that your finances are found. Plus, you always carry your wallet with you.
I wish you a nice day with no stress on the whole planet.
Three months ago, I took about 50 Chinese coins with me to the capital for long-term treatment. There are a lot of people in the hospital who need happiness, and even the staff will be happy if they get a coin in their wallet that will help them. Ambulance drivers, janitors, cleaners, operators of special machines. All people are happy. And the main goal is to find people who will become interested in coins - in collecting.
I still have this supply at home - I will now give it to the children next to the house on the playground through the gaps - to everyone for happiness and joy.
This was all very interesting, Frenchlover. Can you say how old this token is? Also, how much do Feng Shui tokens sell for?
It's not easy to answer your question about the date of this charm. The first important fact is that from the People's Republic of China, the export of old coins is prohibited, with prison sentences at stake, although it seems that there is a certain tolerance (to be confirmed) for coins of the Qing dynasty. The second is that there is a high demand for authentic Chinese coins or charms in the Chinese domestic market. The third observation is that it is really easy to make imitations of this type of coin. All this does not encourage us to consider that one of these charms could land in a medium-sized Massachusetts town that loves lobsters. The most reasonable seems to be to consider that you have in hand one of the multiple chams produced in abundance today first for the domestic market but also, why not, for export. If you want to go further into this world of charms, I recommend the reference website dedicated to them: www.primaltrek.com
This was all very interesting, Frenchlover. Can you say how old this token is? Also, how much do Feng Shui tokens sell for?
It's not easy to answer your question about the date of this charm. The first important fact is that from the People's Republic of China, the export of old coins is prohibited, with prison sentences at stake, although it seems that there is a certain tolerance (to be confirmed) for coins of the Qing dynasty. The second is that there is a high demand for authentic Chinese coins or charms in the Chinese domestic market. The third observation is that it is really easy to make imitations of this type of coin. All this does not encourage us to consider that one of these charms could land in a medium-sized Massachusetts town that loves lobsters. The most reasonable seems to be to consider that you have in hand one of the multiple chams produced in abundance today first for the domestic market but also, why not, for export. If you want to go further into this world of charms, I recommend the reference website dedicated to them: www.primaltrek.com
Thank you again for your insightful observations. Let's assume then that this is one of the modern charms produced in quantity for the domestic Chinese market. How much are they typically sold for?
Thank you again for your insightful observations. Let's assume then that this is one of the modern charms produced in quantity for the domestic Chinese market. How much are they typically sold for?
Some charms like yours have a somewhat old appearance and are therefore more attractive (and more expensive) than the myriad of hastily made tokens that flood the market.
The main market is the Chinese domestic market, the prices of which I do not know.
Coin of abundance-happiness and wealth
