How to read old coins

bazza
 February 23, 2008 at 02:02 AM posted in General Discussion

Just worked out how to read coins like the one below.

They are read top, bottom, right, left, in this case 乾隆通寶. I think 通寶[通宝] just means currency and 乾隆 means Emperor Qianlong 乾隆帝

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tvan
 February 23, 2008 at 02:26 AM

Bazza, I'm with you on the Qianlong. Your interpretation of 通宝 make intuitive sense, but I couldn't it in my pinyin dictionary and I misplaced my good Taiwan one :(

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bazza
 February 23, 2008 at 04:36 AM

Here is a Chinese definition: http://www.zdic.net/cd/ci/10/ZdicE9Zdic80Zdic9A301294.htm

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tvan
 February 23, 2008 at 05:34 AM

Bazza, that's it then. I wonder what year it was issued in? During Qianlong's reign or as a commemorative?

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bababoo
 February 23, 2008 at 08:32 AM

Chinese slang: 铜钱 Beijing Dialect: 铜钱儿 it made of copper and is the currency in old time