huge Chinese cash coin - maybe fake vault protection coin?

[glimmer]

Dear all,

could anyone help me to identify this recently auctioned Chinese copper coin? If the specs are true, it is MASSIVE, and resembles a Wu Zhu style coin much more than the indicated Ming Dynasty:

https://www.katzauction.com/lots/view/1-13B5W2/china-very-large-copper-coin-ming-dynasty-emperor-wu-zong-1506-1521

 

[Jade Collection]

Oh wow, thats a massive coin or whatever you would call it! Went cheap too...

[WoodenJefferson]

Copper 154mm 560mm that's like 400 lbs 

[LINCOLNMAN]

The copper might be worth more than the price realized. "Free shipping" would be significant in this case. An interesting piece.

[RWB]

There's a good reason it sold for 38 Euros.....Can anyone guess? 

[JIM F.]

At least it shouldn't qualify as a choking hazard!  The coin in this picture has a diameter of 57.8 cm (22.8 in), a thickness of 3.7 cm (1.5 in) and a weight of 41.5 kg (91.5 lbs).  The coin was cast during the reign of Emperor Shi Zong (1522-1567).

[WoodenJefferson]

[WoodenJefferson]

8 hours ago, RWB said:

There's a good reason it sold for 38 Euros.....Can anyone guess? 

15.4mm 56.0mm  (typo) should have been much smaller

[JIM F.]

They could have been used as wagon wheels, except. "Round peg no fit in square hole"

 

[glimmer]

Well it isn't a fake!

I continued looking for information and asking around in various places and am getting a bit closer. It appears that at the auction house made mistake with the size specifications, but I haven't been able to verify. Here's the only clear other reference to the coin on the web thus far, and it appears to be the exact same piece:

https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=193371

If anyone else can find a different cast, piece or more information it would be greatly appreciated.

This coin is most likely a peace charm (thanks to the experts who pointed supplied me with useful info on these as well as the ancient vault protector coins) which were often of different size and cast in times of unrest or trouble...

[Just Bob]

19 hours ago, RWB said:

There's a good reason it sold for 38 Euros.....Can anyone guess? 

Is that the number of Twinkies an Apatosaurus can eat in one bite?

[glimmer]

i love your humour Just Bob

as for the approx. value ... the catalogue 'classic chinese charms' by Edward H. from 2004 (i don't have the later upates) lists it as around 4500 RMB ... see below:

 

[WoodenJefferson]

2 hours ago, glimmer said:

4500 RMB

$675.38 United States Dollar

[JIM F.]

I showed the coin from the OP to a Chinese friend of mine.  He said that symbol on the left essentially means "good luck", but did not know what the other symbols meant.

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[RWB]

On 7/2/2018 at 5:09 AM, glimmer said:

i love your humour Just Bob

as for the approx. value ... the catalogue 'classic chinese charms' by Edward H. from 2004 (i don't have the later upates) lists it as around 4500 RMB ... see below:

 

Walmart's first try at a smiley face symbol....what do you expect from a marketing committee on Friday afternoon?

[Just Bob]

On Friday, June 29, 2018 at 12:46 PM, RWB said:

There's a good reason it sold for 38 Euros.....Can anyone guess? 

So... what is the reason?