A brief discussion on the identification of coins
After getting a coin, the first question is the authenticity of the coin. Nowadays, there are many books introducing the identification of coins. Most of them talk about the methods and countermeasures of counterfeiting. However, many identification methods have no great significance or have lost their effect with the improvement of counterfeiting technology.
The basic methods and principles for identifying ancient coins are: First, it is necessary to grasp the characteristics of the times and individual characteristics of coins of each era. Ancient coins all reflect the characteristics of the times when coins were minted. At the same time, ancient coins also have their own individual characteristics. By mastering these characteristics, you can understand what era and type of coins they are, and distinguish real money from counterfeit money based on these characteristics. The characteristics of ancient coins include two aspects: money inscriptions and shape. Qian inscriptions are the fonts cast on ancient coins. Shape refers to the shape structure, casting process and coin material composition of ancient coins. Understanding these era characteristics and individual characteristics of each era and each currency is the basic method to identify the authenticity and value of each era and each type of ancient coin. If we find a coin that is very different from its era characteristics and individual characteristics, For very large currencies, special attention should be paid to the possibility of forgery, and then other methods can be used to identify them to determine their authenticity. second. Use scientific methods to identify fake rust and fake color of fake money. In the appraisal of ancient coins, it is a very important method to distinguish the authenticity of patina and copper color, because it is difficult to absolutely determine the authenticity of some counterfeit coins based on the shape of the characters alone, and the method of identifying the rust color is simple. Third, be familiar with the basic characteristics of counterfeit money. To identify counterfeit money, you need to understand not only the basic characteristics of the era and individual characteristics of real money in each era, but also the basic characteristics of counterfeit money. The counterfeit coins that have been re-engraved are uneven, the front and back of the counterfeit coins that are put together are different in color, and there are always traces around the chiselled words. The coins made by the sanding method are slightly smaller and thinner than the real coins, etc. It is a small thing to understand the counterfeit coins. If you observe the basic conditions and counterfeiting methods carefully, you can discover the forgery of counterfeit coins. Fourth, to master the knowledge related to the appraisal of ancient coins, you should understand the relevant monetary theory, extensive historical knowledge, common sense about the casting of ancient coins and the ancient philology of "planting genealogy and recording" as well as knowledge of the laws and regulations of past dynasties. It is very necessary to identify ancient coins (the above is excerpted from relevant articles). Fifth, understand the coins of neighboring countries such as North Korea, Vietnam, Japan, etc. The above countries have all circulated coins minted by our country, and have also imitated many Chinese coins. We must understand the characteristics of their coins to avoid confusion with Chinese coins.
Predecessors mainly used six characters to analyze coins: text, quality, sound, color, spirit, and taste. The Chinese refers to the text and pattern of the coin, the atmosphere and style, and the quality refers to the shape, craftsmanship, and taste of the coin. In terms of material composition, sound refers to the sound of the coin, color refers to the rust color and patina of the coin, spirit refers to the charm of the coin, and taste refers to the smell of the coin.
The atmosphere and style of text and pattern refer to whether the text and pattern of the coin are smooth and comfortable, whether the text and pattern are elegant or clumsy, and whether they are consistent with the characteristics of the times. It can be said that the text (pattern) style is a difficult point in coin identification, because everyone has different appreciation points, and the conclusions on a controversial coin may be very different, but in large aspects, it can basically be achieved *** For example, the characters on the coins of the Pre-Qin, Warring States, and Qin Dynasties were carved on molds by craftsmen with knives. Since the fonts did not have a certain style, there were many editions, and they were basically not the same. Although the characters were made by the craftsmen at their own convenience. , but without any craftsmanship, they are smooth, natural and vivid, and have their own interest. Among them, there are also those who print and make coins. Most of the fonts are powerful, bold and bold. In the Han Dynasty, the five-baht version was complicated and had different writing styles. Non-Fang family members could not distinguish the differences. Zhang's level was limited and he did not dare to talk nonsense. In the Han Dynasty, Wang Mang, a money-making master, had smooth and unrestrained fonts and a well-proportioned layout. He was famous for his six springs and ten cloths. He also cast goods cloth and goods springs. His fonts were made of hanging needle seals, and most of them were exquisitely made. During the Three Kingdoms, Two Jins, Southern and Northern Dynasties, due to constant wars, the coinage was relatively poor. Generally speaking, the characters of the coins of the Cao and Wei Dynasties of the Three Kingdoms were more casual and smooth; the characters of Sun Wu's coins were more rounded and bold; the coins of the Two Jin Dynasties had different text styles due to different places of casting, rich in text. The Huo and Han Dynasties are vigorous and dignified, the Daxia Zhenxing is bold and natural, with a certain degree of opening and closing, the Liangzao Xinquan has a certain degree of density, and has its own style. In the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there are the free and elegant Xiaojian Si Baht and Yongguang, and the dignified and solemn Wu Baht (Chen Xing). ), Taihuo Liu Baht, etc. During this period, there were many Meiquan, and Yongtong Wanguo was the first to be praised. Taihuo Liu Baht, Wuxing Dabu, Buquan, Changping Wuzhu, Xiaojian, Yongguang, etc. competed for excellence, each with its own characteristics. , the beauty is not harvested. Kaiyuan Tongbao of the Tang Dynasty was written by Ouyang Xun according to the "Old Tang Book. Food and Huo Zhi". The characters contain eight points and the official style is strict and dignified. This style lasted throughout the Tang Dynasty.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the Han Yuan, Yongping, Tongzheng, Tianhan, Guangtian, Qiande, Xiankang, Kaiyuan (cast by Wang Shenzhi), Yonglong, etc. were either cast in the Kaiyuan style or were rough and unsophisticated, and others such as Zhou Yuan and many others inherited the calligraphy style of the Tang Dynasty (because the coins of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms are very complex, most of them are beyond the sight of ordinary collectors. Research is limited and not much has been seen, so I cannot go into details. I hope you will forgive me). Since the Song Dynasty, every emperor has cast a coin with a year name every time he changed the Yuan Dynasty. The money on the coin is rich and colorful, with ever-changing changes, whether it is elegant or vulgar, clumsy or clever, with rigorous writing style and excellent structure. Personally, I think that from an overall level, it is the pinnacle of the development of money calligraphy in our country. After the Song Dynasty, the overall level of Qian calligraphy began to decline. In the Jin Dynasty, there was a revival, represented by Taihe Fuchang. Some of the Zhizheng coins of the Yuan Dynasty are graceful and generous in regular script, but the overall level is not high and is showing a downward trend. Except for the Xianfeng coins of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there are few excellent works. Xianfeng coin is the last revival of coin calligraphy in ancient Chinese coinage. The coins of each bureau are presented in different colors, either like a lady from a noble family or like a jade from a small family. If you taste them carefully, you will have a long aftertaste.
Pattern identification is mainly used in spending money. The spending patterns of each era have their own characteristics of the times. This is not the focus of this article, so I won’t talk about it here.
To use coin characters (patterns) to identify coins, you must not only be familiar with the writing styles of the same period, but also preferably have a certain foundation in calligraphy or the ability to appreciate calligraphy. This may be a bit demanding for beginners. But don’t worry, everyone, read more, think more, and ponder more. As time goes by, you will have a good idea.
Note: The following article about the use of rust-colored patina to identify coins is excerpted from Mr. Zheng Jiaxiang’s work. At present, many coins in the market are mostly copied from Mr. Zheng Jiaxiang’s work for identifying counterfeiting. Zhang also borrowed it for his use. , because the methods of counterfeiting have also undergone many changes, and some methods are no longer suitable, Zhang boldly added some of his own ideas in the middle.
The unearthed ancient coins have experienced hundreds of years of underground corrosion. Some are covered in emerald green, and some are red, green, yellow, and white. They are mottled and mottled. They are called "pit rust" in the coin industry. The ancient coins handed down from ancient times have been used for a long time, and the oil and sweat have entered the surface, and the money body is yellowish brown or brown. In order to achieve the surface effect of being "born in the pit" and "passed down from generation to generation", the counterfeiters alter the color and luster of the counterfeit money. Common methods are as follows:
1. green. Because the unearthed ancient coins are all patinated, the forged ancient coins must be given patina to be authentic. There are five ways to forge the patina:
(1) Bury the forged money in the soil , after taking it out after two or three years, it will be covered with green rust; (Zhang Sanshao’s note: Some high-end counterfeit products have been buried for more than two or three years, and may have been buried for about ten years, and then added acid, etc. The material, now taken out, is covered with hard green rust, which is very lethal. Yiquan and I have paid tuition before, and the rust of this kind of money is not perfect. The color of the green rust is tender and floating.)
(2) Soak the counterfeit coins in hydrochloric acid or acetic acid, and then bury them in the soil. When they are taken out after a year and a half, they will be covered with green rust. Counterfeit money soaked in hydrochloric acid and peracetic acid can also develop green rust if placed in a dark and humid place. However, this kind of green rust is on the surface and cannot penetrate into the bones. The real green rust is brittle and easy to fall off. It cannot produce hard green and can only become earthy green. Therefore, hard green rust cannot be faked; (note by Zhang Sanshao) : This method is currently the most commonly used method for counterfeiting money. It is a low-grade counterfeit. You can tell it with a little attention. In addition, hard green rust can also be produced now)
( 3) Use glue to mix green powder, apply it on the money, then add mud and water and let it dry to form a green rust.
This kind of fake money is most afraid of being soaked in boiling water, because once it is soaked, the green rust will completely fall off; (Zhang Sanshao's note: It is no longer meaningful to use the method of boiling water to identify fake rust. With the advancement of technology, Development, now there are many glues that are not afraid of boiling water)
(4) Mix green powder with rosin and apply it on the fake money, it will become a kind of hard green embroidery, which is not easy to distinguish at first glance. If you rub it with hot hands or soak it in hot water, and smell the rosin smell with your nose, you can tell it is a forgery; (Zhang Sanshao's note: This method is not commonly used now)
(5) Use green enamel paint to paint the fake money. After a year and a half, the enamel paint dries and becomes hard, quite like hard green embroidery. However, its color is not as natural as the unearthed hard green, and it is easy to peel off; (Zhang Sanshao's note: Nowadays, it is often used instead. Resin does not take too long to dry, but the effect is much better than paint. The way to identify it is to use a knife or needle to test the hardness)
2. Red unearthed ancient coins also have red rust. There are four ways to forge red rust:
(1) Burn the counterfeit money with fire until it is thoroughly immersed in cold water, and then it will have red rust; Then soak it in hydrochloric acid or acetic acid, bury it in the soil, and take it out after a year and a half, it will have a red and green rust color, quite like an unearthed ancient coin. However, this method can only be used for red copper coins. If the copper coins are made from Ming and Qing Dynasties, they will not turn red even if they are forged by fire;
(2) Use glue to mix red powder and illuminate it. The aforementioned method of counterfeiting patina can also produce red and green patina, but its weakness is also the same as that of counterfeiting patina;
(3) Use rosin to mix red and green, and apply it on the counterfeit money. , it becomes red and green rust, and its weakness is the same as mentioned above;
(4) Use red enamel and green enamel to mix and paint the counterfeit money, and it will become red and green rust. Its weaknesses are the same as mentioned above. (Zhang Sanshao's note: Nowadays, the first method is often used to make red rust, or resin, paint, etc. are used to apply it on the money, and it is mostly made into a semi-passed down stone.)
In short, red cannot be independent, it must be coordinated Green or blue or handed down from ancient times.
3. Blue rust, the colors of unearthed ancient coins are also red, green, and blue. The counterfeiters' method is to use glue, rosin, and enamel paint to combine, but there are very few fake coins in three colors. (Zhang Sanshao’s note: Judging from the counterfeit money I have seen so far, there are not many counterfeit money in red, green, and blue colors)
4. Some ancient coins have been handed down from generation to generation and have not been buried in the soil. Therefore, most round coins do not have red and green rust. There is only a dark brown color on the surface of the money. This color is called ancient coins. Although some were buried in the soil, after being unearthed and rubbed for a long time, most of the red and green rust fell off, with only some green or red remaining in a few places. (Zhang Sanshao's note: There is also blue left. How much rust is left? Depending on the time and pit style of playing, if the playing time is short, more rust will be left) and the rest has turned into dark brown copper. This is called semi-legendary ancient. There are usually two methods for counterfeiting this color;
(1) Calculate the counterfeit money with fire, take it out and let it cool, so that the surface of the money will turn black, and then wrap it with a belt. , after a year and a half, the color will be smooth and shiny, similar to real money. This kind occasionally has red rust.
(2) Soak the counterfeit money in hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid for a day or two. When you take it out, it will turn black. Then wrap it in a belt for a year and a half, and the color will gradually become glossy, just like the ancient money handed down from ancient times.
(Zhang Sanshao’s note: Although the real ancient coins have a very thin layer, it is difficult to remove even by boiling, washing and scraping. The longer the coins circulate, the darker the color becomes. Nowadays, there are many fake coins handed down from ancient times. Most of them are blackened with soot and then waxed and polished. The money looks like it is dyed with ink. There is no such patina in the coins. There is also a kind of fake money that uses real patina to stick to the counterfeit. This method is originally used. It is used to forge Qing Dong wares. Now it is said that a group of people who forge copper wares have switched to making ancient coins. Although this kind of copper wares looks hard and covered with green and red spots, it overall feels unnatural, and it is difficult to process because of the hard rust. There is a gap between the money and the money body, so most of them are made into pits covered with loess or black garbage. The black ones are fake semi-legendary coins. There are currently a batch of fake coins on the market that are made from semi-legendary coins. The red ones are I have seen dozens of Wanli back dragon patterns, Chongzhen back Wugong, Fuchang Yuanbao, etc. At first glance, there are faint green rust and red spots handed down from ancient times, which is very open, but after a closer look, you will find that the money seems to be painted A layer of oil or wax can be easily removed by cutting or picking with a knife. One of the biggest problems with this batch of money is that all the coins of different eras, different varieties, and different copper qualities are all covered in the same paste. Red patina is usually extremely hard and difficult to remove, except on acid-treated money.
This batch of red and green money has real rust stuck on it, and the other is painted with resin or paint. I think this batch is not well made, but some spring merchants I saw in the market recently bought this batch. Goods, I just want to remind everyone here. )
In order to distinguish the authenticity of ancient coins, although you have accumulated long-term experience, you still need to pay attention to everything, but fake money is different from real money. For example, the green color of real money, whether it is hard green or earthy green, They are all formed after being buried in the soil for decades, hundreds, or even thousands of years. The hardness of hard green is very hard, and the green that has turned from soil is deep into the bones, and some even have copper that has melted (which is commonly referred to as detachment). bone or reborn). The maker of counterfeit money must not wait for decades or hundreds of years to be buried in the soil before taking it out and selling it. If it is buried in the soil for at most two or three years, it will not turn into a hard green color. Even if the soil turns green, it will not penetrate into the bones. It will only appear on the surface of the money. There is just a layer of green rust similar to earth-green, which easily falls off once washed, so it can be distinguished. The same is true for red rust. Real red rust has a live color and is not easy to fall off, while fake red rust has a stagnant color and is easy to fall off. (Zhang Sanshao's note: Today's counterfeiters are different from their predecessors. Hard green has been forged, and many fake rusts have passed the test. Therefore, I personally think that this method can only be applied to ordinary counterfeit products, and high imitation products cannot be used at all. applicable).
Shape refers to the shape structure, casting process and coin material composition of ancient coins. The coining of money in different periods resulted in some specific phenomena either out of necessity or regulations. For example, Qi's sword coins have a higher outline to protect the money's inscriptions, Song's coins have a deeper face and a shallow back, etc. Different coins have different shapes. The copper of ancient coins mainly includes bronze, brass, red copper, white copper, etc. Bronze is a copper-tin-lead alloy, and its colors include bluish white, yellowish, light red or water red; brass refers to copper-zinc alloy, and red copper has the highest copper content and is purple-red; white copper actually refers to copper-nickel alloy, but there are some ancient coins whose copper color is white or silvery. They are also customarily called white copper coins, but they actually do not contain nickel or contain nickel. rare. It is a kind of bronze, but it contains more lead or tin, which causes the change in copper color (according to the historical record "Tiangong Kaiwu", in the Song Dynasty, my country had already produced arsenic-nickel copper made of arsenic and other drugs and sweetened copper. Brass is made of stone, but the process is complex and poisonous. It is estimated that it was only a luxury product for the rich at that time). Due to the different levels of technological development, mineral resources, and metal composition ratios of coins in various historical periods, the copper color of ancient coins also varies greatly. Generally speaking, although the copper quality of pre-Qin yuan coins is bronze, the copper color is redder, close to copper. The copper color of Daobu coins is mostly light red, and the half-liang and five-baht coins have been minted for a long time, and the copper quality is different. The specific varieties need to be analyzed in detail; the early Kaiyuan coins were mostly bluish-white, and the coins of the Southern Tang Dynasty were The color of copper is also mostly yellowish-white; Song coins are either bluish or reddish, and the copper color is complex; Liao coins are dark red or purple-red; Yuan coins are mostly dark red or light red, and temple donation coins are also yellowish. (some people think it can be brass); before the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, bronze was used to cast coins, and after the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, brass was mostly used. This is related to the mastery of zinc refining technology; the copper color of the Qing Dynasty carving mothers (ancestral coins) is mainly golden, Copper is of high quality, giving it a sense of luxury and wealth. In the Qing Dynasty, Xinjiang coins were minted with red copper, so they were called Xinjiang red coins. The copper was warm, dense, and purple in color.
When identifying whether a coin conforms to the shape of the time, in addition to looking at the size, thickness, and weight of the coin, it is also necessary to carefully observe whether the wear and exterior wear are normal, and whether the back of the coin is consistent with that of the same era. The coins are consistent. It is recommended that Quan friends who are new to Quanhe should look at the backs of the coins when collecting coins. Look carefully, compare more, and think more. After a period of time, when you get one in your hand, even if you don't read the money inscriptions, you can still look at the backs of the coins. Identify the approximate casting era. Just like someone you are familiar with, you can recognize who they are from the back. The casting process of coins is also an important aspect in identifying coins. Pre-Qin coins use clay pottery models, such as shrugged empty head cloth, Qi Dadao, Yan Dao, etc.; stone models, such as Anyang cloth, etc.; copper models, such as Chu ant nose coins, etc. The gates and edges of Pre-Qin knives and cloths often have a lot of copper squeezed out of the mold during casting. They are in a natural state because they have not been polished. (Xiao Zhang has lived in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time. It is rare to see Pre-Qin. He knows very little about Pre-Qin and cannot talk about it in detail. , forgive me). From the Qin Dynasty to the early Western Han Dynasty, the casting methods and techniques of the Pre-Qin Dynasty were mainly used. However, the technology of coin casting has further developed. At first, stone molds were the most widely used. In the later period, copper molds began to be used to mint coins. Starting from the Han Dynasty half liang, coin castings It is best to carry out further processing, mainly grinding (chisel) to remove the edge of the money and the flowing copper in the thread. In the middle and late Western Han Dynasty, clay pottery models were the dominant style. Wang Mang's period was the culmination of the Qin and Han coinage craftsmanship. The craftsmanship was exquisite and he was known as the best coin minter. The craftsmanship still mainly used copper molds and clay pottery molds, and stone molds were rarely used.
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, clay pottery molds were mainly used to cast money. From the Sui Dynasty to the Five Dynasties, this period was a relatively controversial period. Some experts speculated that the sand casting method appeared during the Sui Dynasty, but there is no corresponding physical evidence. Based on the limited information and objects at hand, I personally think that this This period was the period when fan casting and sand foundry coexisted, and this situation lasted until the end of the Northern Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, according to historical records, the process of casting mother money into sand was adopted. This process is still used today.
The method of using sound to identify the authenticity of coins has a long history. Genuine coins have been minted for a long time, and the fire has disappeared. When struck, the sound is low and short, while the newly minted coins have a crisp sound when struck. Loud and long lasting. Now this method is meaningless to deal with some counterfeit products. The sound of these counterfeit products has completely passed the test. It is said that some impurities were added during recasting. Moreover, due to different preservation environments of ancient coins, the same coin may appear with completely different sounds. But this method is particularly effective for counterfeit money made by bonding and splicing and money repaired after damage. As long as you drop it lightly on the table or hit it with metal, it will make a broken sound. There is no metallic sound like normal coins. You can try it yourself and compare. You can also use this method to check whether the coin's bone quality is good. Be careful when knocking or dropping it on the table to avoid injury to a good coin.
Smell identification is also an important method for identifying ancient coins. Ancient coins that have been buried in the soil for a long time will have an earthy aroma if you smell them carefully. Using paint and other chemical raw materials to make fake rusty coins will have a strange smell. If you smell it after boiling it with water, these special smells will be more obvious. Pseudo-rust that grows after being soaked in sulfuric acid, acetic acid, etc., in addition to being loose, coarse, and easy to fall off, often leaves the smell of acidic liquid. Dear Quan friends, you can smell it carefully when buying coins.
I have finished writing the basic methods for identifying coins. Xiao Zhang’s level is limited. I hope the article will be helpful to everyone. This is a great comfort to me. Finally, I would like to share with my friends who are just getting started, my personal experience in getting started: read more, think more, and buy less. Watching more means buying some coins that open the door, and playing with them more often. Don't just buy them and put them away. Thinking too much refers to two aspects. One refers to comparing carefully when looking at money, thinking more, finding out the authenticity of real money, and pondering the beauty of the rust color and calligraphy of coins; the second refers to not thinking about it when buying coins. If you want to take the elixir and get a bargain, you should consider the authenticity of the coin and make a comprehensive judgment from the shape, text, rust color, price and other aspects of the coin. If you find that you have any doubts, you would rather give up than take any chances. Buying less means buying as little as possible mid-to-high-end coins with relatively high values ??to avoid being deceived (except if it is sold by a trustworthy friend). I once jokingly called it the "six-character mantra." At the same time, I also hope that Quanyou can listen to other people's opinions. The first thing to listen to is not whether the opinion is right or wrong, but his reasons, and then find out the refutation. This can transform the perceptual understanding of a coin into a rational one. Understanding is not only endless fun, but also can improve your level. But in addition to being able to listen to other people's opinions, you must not be influenced by other people's opinions. Don't mistake real money for fake money, thereby missing out on good money. Let me tell you something that happened here. One day, a father and son came to the antique market. Judging from the situation, the father accompanied his son to buy coins (the child looked like he was a junior high school student). He was very energetic and proud. With Mr. Hua Guangpu's masterpiece under his sleeve, he went to the market to "ask for money according to the score" and spent 300 yuan for the first time on one each of Wenxin and Chang'an. The next day, with even greater momentum (probably because I felt I had made a lot of money on the first day), the whole family went to the market and spent more than a thousand yuan to buy nearly ten large treasures such as three-hole cloth and Song Dynasty Tongbao. A friend and I couldn't stand it at the time, so we secretly told him when he left the stall that these things are all new and fake. Don't buy them. Return them now. It's better to lose a little money than to lose everything. After the army was destroyed, the father, who had not thought about the child, stared and said, "Who are you kidding? This thing is rusty, it can be fake." We were speechless and had to walk away bored. In the next period of time, I heard that I had purchased several thousand yuan more, saying that I was going to sell it in Shanghai. The result is as you can imagine. Not long after, this person disappeared. Until now, I have never seen this family in the antique market again.