Qing Dynasty. Xuan Zong (Dao Guang) Pattern (Mother Coin) Cash ND (1824-1850) Certified 88 by Gong Bo Grading, Board of Works mint (New Branch), cf. FD-2387 (for standard type), Hartill-22.596 (same), Shanghai Museum-1528, Jen-1603. 24mm. 4.8gm. Closed head Tong, small Guang variety. A very rare mother coin (mu qian) type, fielding the hallmark razor-sharp characters and none of the tooling that so frequently is seen on these "Pattern" issues. Perhaps just lightly handled, the survival of these smaller size relics of the casting process is few and far between, not least because many were mixed in with the final, standard circulating Cash, meaning that they could be just as subject to circulation wear and later remelting during periods of copper shortages.

HID09801242017

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