CHINA: cash coin sword, made of approximately 100 coins and likely sewn together in the Min Guo (Republic) period in the 1930-40s; a well-made sword in excellent condition, VF. Coin swords were a form of talisman used in south China to ward off evil influences, especially those inducing fever. They were made by tying together 'cash' (the pidgin term for Chinese coins with a square hole in the middle) onto an iron rod. The coins in this sword are all machine struck coins of the Kuang Hsu (Guangxu) Emperor, 1875-1908, struck at the Canton (Guangzhou) mint in Kwangtung (Guangdong).

Estimate: USD 200 - 300