Coin collecting

Ancient coin collecting

How were ancient Chinese coins made

How were ancient Chinese coins made
Three thousand years of Chinese coin casting innovation produced the world’s finest cast coinage
Ancient Chinese cash coins were produced by casting until the late nineteenth century. Far cheaper and easier than coin striking, ancient Chinese had exploited casting through constant innovation and improvements of the process.

For more than three thousand years, Chinese coins were produced through casting.

Early Ancient Chinese coin casting process

The earliest form of casting technique employed in Chinese coin production was with the use of moulds prepared by carving images and legends of the coin directly into a block of clay or soapstone. The carving was done with prior model. Thus, early Chinese cash of the same denomination shows a great deal of variations.

“Mother Coins” in old Chinese coin making

During the Han Dynasty, Chinese mints partially solved the inconsistencies in cast coins by using bronze master moulds. Master moulds were used to prepare the clay moulds which will be used for the actual casting.

Advances in the casting process in the sixth century resulted in the introduction mother coins (mu qian). Mother coins were used to impress the designs of the coin on very fine wet sand that would act as moulds for the coins. A mother coin was prepared by carefully engraving a pattern of the coin in a material that can be easily worked with such as tin.

The coin casting process involves the use of a rectangular frame filled with fine wet sand, presumably mixed with clay, and sprinkled with charcoal or coal dust. The dust allows the molten metal to flow smoothly. It also acts as a layer that separates the two halves of the moulds.

This is a Qing Dynasty mother coin or mu qian used in casting Qing Tong Baos.

Mother coins are pressed on the wet sand in the wooden frame (first half of the mould). Rods are placed between the coins to create channels where the molten metal can flow. A second frame (second half of the mould) is placed on top and pressed tightly. This imprints the designs of the obverse and reverse of the mother coins on the sand in the frames.

The mother coins are then removed and transferred on top of the second frame to create new moulds. This processed is repeated until up to fifteen layers of moulds are created. The wooden frames are bound tautly and filled with molten metal, usually bronze.

This process creates a “coin tree,” cast coins connected by hardened metal on the channels. After brushing off the sand, coins are broken of the “tree.”

To make the edges smooth, the coins are strung together on a long square rod and the coin edges are filed down. It is further polished in tubs of chaff or sand before the final stringing.

The use of mother coins proved to be effective in controlling the quality of the coins. Slight differences between mother coins still existed however skillful the carver is.

A coin tree is produced right after casting – made of coins connected by the metal that hardened in the channel.

“Ancestor Coins” in antique Chinese coin production

In the turn of the 18th century, a move was made that would better control the quality of mother coins. The new procedure introduced the use of “ancestor coins” (zu qian) to cast the mother coins. Ancestor coins were carefully engraved, polished and guarded.

The same casting procedure was utilized in the production of the mother coins, and the circulating cash coins. Ancestor coins led to even better consistency in the produced coins.

A single ancestor coin can be used to cast thousands of mother coins, which in turn are used to cast thousands of circulating cash.

This Qian Yuan Tong Bao is one of the many ancient cash coins produced with the use of ancestor coins.

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This article is about: How old Chinese coins were made? Make ancient Chinese coin is cheaper. Making old Chinese coin is easier and faster than striking. Ancient Chinese coin making requires mastery in metalworking. Ancient Chinese coin production evolved through time. Ancient Chinese coin casting is a process. Ancient Chinese coin minting was an age-old technique.

How ancient Chinese coins were produced? Old Chinese coin making were used since ancient times. Old Chinese coin production is done through casting. Old Chinese coin casting is tedious process. Old Chinese coin minting uses an antiquated process. Minting antique Chinese coinages is not as easy as it looks.

How ancient Chinese coins were cast? Antique Chinese coin making differs is an art form. Antique Chinese coin casting was used for more than 3,000 years. Antique Chinese coin production used copper, lead and other metals. Antique Chinese coin minting was done by expert casters. Old Chinese coin making process was use to produce cash coins.

How ancient Chinese coins were manufactured? Making antique Chinese coins stopped in the late 19th century. Procedure in making ancient Chinese coins is a rare glimpse into ancient Chinese industry. Procedure in making old Chinese coins makes use of sand, wooden frame and model coins. Process in making ancient Chinese coins creates coins with some variations and inconsistencies.

Ancient Chinese coinage making were allowed for old private mints. Ancient Chinese coins making produced millions of coins. Old Chinese coins making is an innovation in casting. Old Chinese coins casting used calligraphy and some other markings. Old Chinese coins minting used clay molds and sand molds. Process in casting ancient Chinese coins is efficient in fast production.

Minting old Chinese coinages dates back to three thousand years ago. Ancient Chinese coin making process took a different route in coin minting. Antique Chinese coin making process stopped in the nineteenth century. Ancient Chinese cash coin making. Ancient Chinese cash coin production.

Ancient Chinese cash coins making is an easy and effective technique. Ancient Chinese cash coins production were imported to other countries. Old Chinese coin cash casting methods use charcoal and coal dust. Casting ancient Chinese cash coinage used mother coins to make molds. Minting antique Chinese cash coins requires mastery in engraving tiny details and legends.

Making old Chinese cash must have been big industry throughout the empire. Each Chinese dynasty is making ancient Chinese cash. Making old Chinese cash coins is easy if you want to try. Production of ancient Chinese cash coins employs many people. Production of old Chinese cash coins halted when western striking was introduced. Production of antique Chinese cash coins continued in neighboring countries.

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Coin collecting

Ancient coin collecting

How were ancient Chinese coins made

How were ancient Chinese coins made

Three thousand years of Chinese coin casting innovation produced the world’s finest cast coinage