Need Asian character interpretation on item

[cusedpjd]

Hi all. I found this metal button in a site where I have found other old relics. I tried researching the characters on the button myself but have had no luck finding a match. Not sure if they are Chinese, Japanese, or what. Anyone have any idea and what these characters mean? I am stumped. Thanks.

 

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[cti4sw]

They are Chinese. See the link regarding languages in my signature.

 

[cusedpjd]

Hi. Thanks but I did not see a link to the Chinese language. Can you list that?

 

[cusedpjd]

I see it now. Thanks. But I still don't know what these symbol mean. Anyone know?

 

[HuntinDog]

I don't think they are actual Chinese characters.
I think this is modern fashion button made to look like the old Chinese cash coins.

 

[cti4sw]

I don't think they are actual Chinese characters.
I think this is modern fashion button made to look like the old Chinese cash coins.

I had thought that too, but didn't speculate because I don't know much about the old cash coins to begin with.

 

[cusedpjd]

I had thought that too, but didn't speculate because I don't know much about the old cash coins to begin with.

That would explain why I can't find a match!

 

[Ant]

Me too, lol:

 

[cusedpjd]

Omg. Were you able to find anything else about this button?

 

[nhbenz]

This seller apparently knows even less than we seem to, as they describe them as square.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/98580491/set-of-5-vintage-oriental-metal-buttons

 

[cusedpjd]

This seller apparently knows even less than we seem to, as they describe them as square.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/98580491/set-of-5-vintage-oriental-metal-buttons

That's great though. They are described as vintage, so that's good. I am going to try other ways to find someone who can read Chinese characters who can tell us if these actually mean anything.

 

[Ant]

Two more of the back:

 

[cusedpjd]

I found out what it means from someone I know who reads and writes Chinese. Here is what that person said:

It looks like the characters were squeezed to fit into the 'coin.' One word means gold, another means "coming" (fortune is coming), the other two words are so squeezed that it's hard to read. In my experience, the 4 words likely make up the common Chinese phrase/saying typically during Chinese new year time: getting (you) gold and fortune. It is common to find this phrase/saying on a metal coin such as this.

 

[Ant]

I know it is old because it found itself into my button cubby. I found it at an old Rail Road loading site. I want to say the back was filled with plastic or some kind or shell (abalone) and broke out, similar to the button at 2:00 o’clock that is on top of the milky looking part of an arrow head. I even think I have some coins that I found that have the exact same caricatures. I can look through my foreign coins and post it if you like.
I thought it could be a Chinese laborers button.

 

[HuntinDog]

I still believe that this is a imitation coin fashion button.
the fraise your friend is referring to

these do not match the buttons characters
Here is a link to some of the more common cash coins found.
coins of china, the Ch'ing Dynasty

I tried a Chinese to American writing translator and could not get a match to any of the characters on your button.

I know I'm not much help in the answers you are searching for, but I gave it a shot.

HH

 

[Ant]

The site that I found the same kind of button at only produced finds from the late 20's to late 60's, nothing earlier or later, I’ll look through my recovered Chinese coins.

 

[Ant]

I looked at 6 or 7 coins and I don't see any characters that match. I still think it was affixed to a Chinese workers shirt, because back then no red blooded American would use those for buttons. But it have could be from the Vietnam Era and a Military person had clothing that this type of button was affixed to.

 

[PamDF]

I rather think it looks like this with the characters compressed or simplified. It roughly means "Money come in", and the complex part of the last character (the one on the left side in the pic I posted meaning "enter") was simplified into an arrow