World Silver & Bronze Coins (A - China)

  PrevNext  

Lot 1966    SESSION 7 (11.30AM WEDNESDAY 26 JULY)    World Silver & Bronze Coins (A - China)

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $100

CHINA, Western Han dynasty, made c.10 B.C - 50 A.D., clay "gold cake or pottery cake" money (5), 55-58mm in diameter, (40.80, 50.36, 49.94, 60.45, 74.26 g), all featuring different designs (one illustrated); together with a bronze hand clasting a rock as a weapon (164.52 g) (illustrated). Very fine and 'cakes' scarce. (6)

Ex Patrick J.O'Rourke Collection and from Monetarium Sale No.1 18th April 2008 (lot 143) some others from Singapore Coin Auction No.30, March 2000 (lot 9).

These pieces are clay funerary "gold cake" money, dating to the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C. - 9 A.D.) or slightly later. During the early Western Han dynasty, the gold plate money was no longer manufactured. Instead, slabs of gold in shape of little round "cakes" with various patterns on them were produced in the regions around the Yellow river. Clay copies of these cakes were also produced, and these probably had some ceremonial or funerary use. They used to be extremely rare until recently when a number of them appeared on the market. The hand broken off from an old bronze statue probably comes from about the same time.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

Quick find

View a lot by number and sale.

Adjacent lots

  • Lot 1964  

    CHINA, Eastern Zhou Dynasty 770-221 B.C, a hard green stone, made as a large imitation ...

    Estimate $400

  • Lot 1965  

    CHINA, Chou Dynasty, cast ghost face money or ant nose money as a money tree ...

    Estimate $500

  • Lot 1966   This lot

    CHINA, Western Han dynasty, made c.10 B.C - 50 A.D., clay "gold cake or pottery ...

    Estimate $150

  • Lot 1967  

    CHINA, Wang Mang Interregnum period, (A.D. 9-22), The "Pu" currency, introduced A.D. 14, square foot ...

    Estimate $100

  • Lot 1968  

    CHINA, Hsin Dynasty, Wang Mang Interregnum, (c.A.D. 7-22), a bronze mould 80x82mm (mother), for making ...

    Estimate $100