Catalogue
China, uncertain period, "Ch'in" series, plain type, odd shaped medium of exchange, and also known as "bridge money", (c.1000-500 B.C.), (weights 7.97, 7.99, 10.97, 23.87, 26.66 (illustrated g), length 80-147mms, mostly plain with hook or hole supports, one with some ornamentation (Hartill -, cf.Coole 6669 - 6721, Vol.5 p.473-477, Not in Sch. or TFP). Some with green patina, fine - very fine and rare. (5)
Estimate $200
SOLD $140
China, uncertain period, "Ch'in" series, double dragon head type, odd shaped medium of exchange and also known as "bridge money", (c.1000-500 B.C.), (19.67 g), length 105mms, (cf.Coole 6722 - 6736, Vol.5 p.478, 482, Not in Sch. or TFP). With green patina, very fine and very rare.
Estimate $150
SOLD $100
China, Chou Dynasty early period, (1000-500 B.C.), bronze fish money, uncertain era, shape similar to knife money but a fish, probably used in tombs, 'Yu' Fish series, some with detailed rib type in copper, odd shaped medium of exchange, mostly used in burial ceremonies in China, fish thrown into water to buy water for burial of the dead, (3.95, 9.35, 14.65, 15.12, 20.04, 25.26 g), length 60, 68, 83, 86, 98 and 108mms, (cf.Coole 6920-6934, Vol.5 p.559-563, Not in Sch). Green and dirt hoard patination, otherwise fine - very fine and rare. (6)
Estimate $300
SOLD $200
China, Chou Dynasty, Spring-Autumn Period, 770-476 B.C., a Halberd pointed type, a relative to the spades and knife coins, found in only one location State of Yue, (Shaoxing city in Zhejiang Province), (4.70 g), length 100mms, (Hartill -, ref. David Jen p.5, Sch.-, TFP -). Some minor encrustation, otherwise good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $120
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, "Yuen" or I series, hollow handle spade, (c.400-250 B.C.), one character spade money, "Hau", height 98mms, (39.7 g), (cf.Hartill 2.1 - 2.129, -cf.Coole Vol.2 348, cf.TFP 44, JMBQ 20). Some green encrustation, otherwise fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $300
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, four character series, hollow handle spade, (c.400-300 B.C.), multiple character spade money, three vertical lines, slightly curved foot, height 71mms, (19.95 g), (cf.Hartill 2.163). Some green and soil encrustation, otherwise very fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $300
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, "Yuen" or I series, hollow handle spade, (c.400-250 B.C.), height 99mms, (35.90 g), (cf.Hartill 2.1 - 2.129, -cf.Coole Vol.2 348, cf.TFP 44, JMBQ 20); together with another similar curved foot example with "Wu" a city of Liang or Jin, East Shaanxi, with vertical lines on obverse and reverse, height 85mm (23.24 g), (Hartill 2.170, TFP 23). Both with some green and soil encrustation, otherwise fine - very fine, first with break across flan, rare. (2)
Estimate $200
SOLD $400
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, "Yuen" or I series, hollow handle pointed shoulder spade, (c.500-400 B.C.), no character spade money, height 124mms, (26.30 g), (cf.Hartill 2.187, Schjoth 43, cf.TFP 11). Some green and soil encrustation, otherwise fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $400
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), issued 400-300 B.C., bronze flat handled Pu (spade) also called saddle money, round shoulders with arched foot, 'An yi yi Jin', two jin, city of Liang (Wei), (19.2 g), height 63mm, another for one jin, (12.65 g), (Hartill 3.8, 3.10, TFP 299 and 301, Schjoth 1-2). Light dirt adhering to green or cleaned surface, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $250
SOLD $550
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), medium size pointed sharp shoulder pointed foot spade money, "Ping Tao Jian Zu Bu" [sharp footed coin of Ping Tao state of Wei in the Ping Zhou area now Quwo Shanxi Warring State period], (6.6 g), height 55mm, (Hartill 3.102-3, TFP 149) (illustrated); another similar "Jinyand - Ban [half jin], old name for T'ai Yuan Fu the capital of Shansi, (6.6 g), height 57 mm, (6.6 g), (cf.Hartill 3.88, TFP 122). Attractive green patina, otherwise good fine and very rare. (2)
Estimate $200
SOLD $200
China, Chou Dynasty, early and late period, (770-221 B.C.), bronze small rounded shouldered square footed spade money, value half spade, "Lieng Pan sheng", (Suspended) two chin, height 47mm, (8.0 g), (Hartill 3.43, Coole Vol.2 No.1146 [no hole at top], TFP 303). Dirty patina with some light encrustation on both sides, very fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $150
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), medium size pointed sharp shoulder pointed foot spade money, "Yu Hseng" [Elm Countryside, Yu Hsiang was a city state of the Han Clan in Ch'i State in Southern Shantung province, probably this was an issue to the countryside around that city], (13.1 g), height 84mm, (Hartill 3.138, Coole Vol.4, 5437, p.217, Not in Sch., TFP 107). Uneven green patina, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $150
SOLD $200
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), bronze sharp angled head with square shoulder square foot spade money, city of Lu, Nieh Chin "Black Money" [Nieh is the name of a river in Honan], (17.0 g), height 72mm, (Hartill 3.170, Coole Vol.3 4439 TFP 284). Light dirt adhering to green surface, otherwise very fine and very rare.
Estimate $350
SOLD $300
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), medium size square foot spade money, "An Yang' [Ancient city in Honan Province], (11.85 g), height 53mm, (Hartill 3.184, TFP 161). Green and red patina, otherwise good fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $140
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to Late period, (475-221 B.C.), bronze, large square shouldered square arched foot spade money, issued 350-250 B.C., height 38-49mm, (average weight 6 g), (Hartill types 3.181-3.447). Green and soil patination, one bent, another with broken top, some unattributable, fair - very fine, some rare. (12)
Estimate $200
SOLD $300
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, Warring State period, (450-221 B.C.), Lei Shek, Split Rock city state, bronze, round head with round shoulders and feet, spade money, value five wu, (6.6 g), height 56mm, (Hartill 3.481, Coole Vol.3 4308 p.395, TFP 317). Light dirt adhering to green patina surface, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $100
China, Chou Dynasty, Large "Ch'i or Qi" series (from the Duchy of Ch'i during the Chou Dynasty), pointed type, (c.400-250 B.C.), value 10, as characters on knife money, obv. Ch'i Chih Fa (Huan) Huo, (Qi legal money) rev. Sheng (to grow) shi (ten), (49.10 g), length 185mms, (Hartill 4.6, Coole 6179, Vol.5 p.205, cf.Sch.45, TFP 351). Some minor encrustation, otherwise good very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $1,700
China, Chou dynasty, Spring and Autumn period, c.600-400 B.C., needle tip knives, one with character Ji, (12.78 g), 150mm long, (Hartill 4.10) another (11.61 g), 142mm long, type with 2 x half arrows at each end, (Hartill -). Both with green encrustation otherwise fine. (2)
Estimate $100
SOLD $200
China, Chou dynasty, Spring and Autumn period, c.600-400 B.C., needle tip knives, with character wang (13.45 g), 143mm long, (cf.Hartill 4.8 - 4.12) (illustrated), others with blue-green oxidation (9.65 and 11.20 g), 150mm long, types without visible symbols, (Hartill 4.12). First very fine, others fair - fine. (3)
Estimate $120
SOLD $180
China, Chou Dynasty, Spring-Autumn period, (700-476 B.C.), pointed tip curved knife money, issued 600-400 B.C., obverse Liu (six), (14.40 g), length 153mm, (Hartill 4.16, Sch.62), others (2) similar types with encrustation, (16.16, 14.80 g). Light dirt and green oxidation on surface, otherwise fine and very scarce. (3)
Estimate $120
SOLD $180
China, Chou Dynasty, Spring-Autumn period, (700-476 B.C.), pointed tip curved knife money, issued 600-400 B.C., obverse Liu (six), (17.33, 17.46 g), length 153mm, (Hartill 4.16, Sch.62), another similar types with encrustation and a Chinese Character, (17.27 g). Light dirt and green oxidation on surface, otherwise fine and very scarce. (3)
Estimate $120
SOLD $200
China, Chou Dynasty (1122-255 B.C.), Ming knife money with straight tip and angles bent along knife, issued 400-220 B.C. obv. type Ming, rev. various symbols, length 130-140mm, (cf.Hartill 4.40 ff, cf.TFP 341ff., cf.Schjoth 52-61). Dark green and dirt patination, fair - very fine, one repaired after break. (16)
Estimate $250
SOLD $420
China, Chou Dynasty, Middle to late period, (475-221 B.C.), very small size straight knife money, Jin Ban (Jin [Yang] half), (4.18 g), length 74mm, (Hartill 4.72, Coole Vol.6 8868, p.498, Not in Sch. or TFP, JMQB p.111). Light dirt adhering to attractive green surface, otherwise fine and very rare.
Estimate $120
SOLD $200
China, Chou Dynasty, late period, (300-250 B.C.), slightly curved knife money, "Lin' (place name was a town in the State of Cha [Shansi]), (8.76 g), length 110mm, (Hartill 4.75, Coole 8865). Light green patina, otherwise very fine and extremely rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $300
China, Western Zhou (Chou) Dynasty, State of Qi, round cash with square hole (350 - 300 B.C.), Pre-Qin type (Qi united China in 221 B.C.) "Ban Liang" (half ounce), two long characters either side, (131.53 g), diameter 71 mm, (cf.Hartill 7.1 [R8]). Fine - nearly very fine, with heavy dirt encrustation, a very rare large variety.
Estimate $150
SOLD $180
China, (Western [Hsi]) Han Dynasty, issue of the 1st century B.C. - 1st century A.D., round convex lead ingot with a concave reverse containing a barbarous Greek inscription, 53mms, (125.56 g), obv. crude coiling dragon, rev. circular inscription with barbarous Greek letters and small rectangular punches with Chinese characters, (Cribb, Coin Hoards IV, pps 76-78, Asia Society 2001, Monks & Merchants, 'Silk Road in Gansu and Ningxia' p.37. Worn, nearly fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $200
China, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang rebel, (A.D. 7-22), gold inlayed key money of value 5000, (27.32 g), obv. Yih-tao (in gold) p'ing wu-chien, "one knife : value five thousand", (Hartill 9.12, Sch.119, cf.TFP 456 & 458). Extremely fine, a very nice example with very clear characters and minimal encrustation, very rare in this condition.
Estimate $3,000
SOLD $3,500
China, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang rebel, (A.D. 7-22), knife money with value indicated of 500, (15.03 g), obv. Qi Dao Wu Bai (inscribed knife five hundred), (Hartill 9.13, Sch.116, TFP 454) (illustrated); together with issues from 6 - 9 A.D. value 20, value 30, value 40 (illustrated) (Hartill 9.16, 9.17, 9.18, Sch.142, 142a, 142b, TFP 463-465). Mostly very fine, the last three all very rare, generally with very clear characters and minimal encrustation. (4)
Estimate $500
SOLD $300
China, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang Interregnum, huo-pu 'The pu currency', spade money, height 60mm, width 24mm, (45 B.C. - 23 A.D.), (Hartill 9.30) (3); assorted similar smaller issues known as the 10 spades issued from 10-14 A.D., these have values 100, 200 (2), 300, 400 (2) (one illustrated), 500, 600, 700 (2), 800, 900, 1000 (3, one illustrated) on them, they include (Hartill 9.20 (very small), 9.21, 9.22, 9.23, 9.24, 9.25, 9.26, 9.27, 9.28 9.29, TFP 466-483). All with green and dirt encrustation, all issues rare, mostly fine - very fine. (18)
Estimate $900
SOLD $2,100
China, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang rebel, round one cash with square hole, (A.D. 7-23), introduced in 14 A.D., Huo Quan, a broken strip of 4 coins, one broken off end, from the end of a money tree, length 125mm, (15.57 g), (cf.Hartill 9.32ff, Sch.149). Fine - very fine, unusual and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $120