China (1905) 2 cash Y-8
This specimen was lot 54361 in Stack's Bowers Hong Kong auction (Hong Kong, April 2021), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "CHINA. 2 Cash, CD (1905). PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield. A decently struck coin with dark brown patina." This type was struck in 1905-07. It is dated by the two characters at 3 and 9 o'clock on the reverse, corresponding to the Chinese sixty year cyclical calendar. It is an example of the standard unified general coinage, from the Tientsin mint, and was meant to offer a unified alternative to the proliferation of provincial mint coins. Varieties exist. The two cash was not popular with the public or with mint officials, who found the ten cash much more profitable.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper, 32 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: CL-HB.11; KM-Y8.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Kann, Eduard. Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 1 of 3. Bronx, NY: Ishi Press International, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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