Chinese Numismatics in Research - Dubious or False Coins III

Dubious or False Coins III

During my collecting in the passing 16 years, I have collected many dubious or false coins. Most of them were collected long time ago, but some of them are collected within the recent years. I really don't like being deceived. I think it is nothing to be ashamed of making such kind of mistake, sometimes even the advanced collectors would be deceived.

It seems my own affairs, but it may be your business later. I would like to discuss with you some of the amazing lore surrounding the Chinese coinage forgeries. If you have never collected fake coins, you are really lucky. On the other hand, if you want to share your knowledge and your enthusiasm in the coin collecting, you are welcome to express them in this page. I would like to learn something from you.

Counterfeit Old Kiangnan Silver Coin
["Lao Kiang Nan"]

Recently more counterfeit China silver dollars were found in the collecting circle. Many collectors complained that they had purchase the fake coins via online auctions. I find that at the first glance of the fakes, they resemble the genuine, but if you judge them carefully, you can easily reveal that they are counterfeit. It is because most of these fakes are reminted with the poor workmanship.

This counterfeit coin was unluckily purchased by Mr.P.R. of USA. He wrote to me an email on 24th Nov., 2005. The email is self-explanatory.

Subject: Kiang Nan dragon coin+Tibet Rupee

Dear Mr. Leung:

First of all, my sincere congratulations by your wonderful site regarding chinese coins. It taught me a lot of things that very difficultly I would know, since I am not chinese.

I am not a coin expert, but since I am very fond of chinese culture. I buy some chinese coins now and then, not because they are valuable, but just because I like them.

I read with utmost attention your page regarding the Kiang nan dragon coins and the Tibet rupee and I would like to share with you 2 of my coins that I would like to hear your oppinion about.

Neither the Kaing Nan dragon coin and the Tiber rupee that I have match any of your coins posted on your site and that is why I would like you to see it.

Can it be that the Kiang Nan coin is the one that you mention as the "Lao Kiang Nan" design?

Regarding the Tibet rupee, the design of the obverse seems that doesn't match your photos and the diameter is 38mm like the Kiang Nan dragon coin.

Let me thank in advance for the time that you took to analyse my photos. If you need more photos to make up your idea, please let me know.

Once more, my congratualtion for the helpful site that you maintain.

Best Regards,

PR

By courtesy of Mr.WHQ and Mr.PR

I judge this coin by appearances of which showing that this coin doesn't reflect the correct metal composition. I think this coin was reproduced with the unknown metal. Since the "Lao Kiang Nan" silver dollars are not the lower-value struck coins, apparently this item is a recent forgery.

I have posted another more closeup picture of a genuine "Lao Kiang Nan" coin here, I want collectors to compare the differences between the fake and the genuine themselves.

By courtesy of Mr.WHQ. Thanks indeed!

Any additional comment would be much appreciated, you can send it to Y K Leung.