Dating old chinese coins

A Chinese coin about years old was recently unearthed on an island just off the coast of Kenya. If it proves to be authentic, the coin could show that the Chinese explorer Zheng He — like a Christopher Columbus of the East — came to this part of east Africa. We know Africa has always been connected to the rest of the world, but this coin opens a discussion about the relationship between China and Indian Ocean nations," archaeologist Chapurukha M. Kusimba of The Field Museum in Chicago said in a statement. The copper and silver disk has a square hole in the center, possibly to be worn on a belt. Kusimba told LiveScience it was found on the first day of excavations at Manda, an island that hugs Kenya's coast about miles kilometers northeast of Mombasa.

Old coins can be hard to identify and put values or prices on if you don't even know what the old coin is called. Is your old coin made of silver or gold? What country is the old coin from? Are the inscriptions in English or some other foreign language? Does the coin look brand-new or is it so worn that it is barely identifiable? Is it a real coin or some sort of gaming or trade token?

Aside from its practical value, money is made distinctive by the culture in which it rises and evolves. Chinese money is no different, with the bank notes proudly diplaying the face of Mao Zedong as testament to China's recent history. In this guide, beyond the value of money in its purchasing power, we consider its value as a reflection of the Chinese people. Below is the fifth series of banknotes, commissioned in , with the head of Mao Zedong on the front, and fourth series jiao notes.

Antique Chinese coins are a popular collector's item, but real ones can be tricky to find. Forgeries and misidentified coins are common sights on the market. Often, sellers aren't even aware that the coins they're offering are fakes.