Kansu brass Cast 20 Cash ND (1920) AU Details (Environmental Damage) NGC, Lanchow mint, KM-Unl. Flags in solid border, reverse without English text type. Illicit coinage known as 'Lanchow coppers' issued in the era of Gansu warlords. A crude, cast piece with ample details considering the method of production. The local warlord in or near Lanchow, in need of money to finance his military operations, called in the existing machine struck copper coins (KM-Y308) in circulation, melted them down, debased the mixture, and reportedly even added sand to the alloy to increase the volume of the alloy which was then used to cast these imitations. HID09801242017 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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