odd coin or token cent sized but a bit thicker made of copper =--- what is it?

[ivan salis]

here we go -- due to the pagoda and the peace sign / v for victory beause of the two fingered monk figure I think its asain of some sort --the writing / numbers on it while it appears somewhat asian looking but it is rather odd looking to me and it is a type totally unknown to me

 

[alpha105]

told ya'll it was a toughie --- ancient chinese (might be why it looks think a asain language but is not easily IDible ? ) -- buddist monks --giving a "blessing" at a temple? -- yep seems like its another one like piggmans nuts or the 15 counter thingy that refuses to be IDed --- what have I done ? ---the unholy trio has been reveled ---doom doom doom I tell ya --- LOL --- Ivan

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

Nope....just claims with no proof.

 

[allen_idaho]

I've actually seen one of those before during my travels across asia. I can't remember which country exactly. But I'm pretty sure it is a temple token.

 

[alpha105]

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

Nope....just claims with no proof.

I swear it was posted in another topic somewhere......and there was a picture of a new on...thats looked almost exactly the same....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

Nope....just claims with no proof.

I swear it was posted in another topic somewhere......and there was a picture of a new on...thats looked almost exactly the same....

this one? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,166628.0.html

 

[alpha105]

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

Nope....just claims with no proof.

I swear it was posted in another topic somewhere......and there was a picture of a new on...thats looked almost exactly the same....

this one? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,166628.0.html

yessir.....is it official?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I thought the counter was Id'd as a timer for a washing machine....or something like that

Nope....just claims with no proof.

I swear it was posted in another topic somewhere......and there was a picture of a new on...thats looked almost exactly the same....

this one? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,166628.0.html

yessir.....is it official?

No. I have not seen anything that matches. We are going off topic.

 

[PBK]

Re: odd coin or token cent sized but a bit thicker made of copper =--- what is i

I sent the photos to a friend who collects Asian exonumia. He thought that it might be a temple token, but didn't recognize it; so, he forwarded the photos to a couple of other experts in that field, one of whom sent the following brief reply:

"The 'coin' is a token, probably for use in a gambling machine. There are a number of picture varieties around, but all of them have the same odd reverse 'characters' (as in this photo) in common. Value would be in the $2 to $5 range."

​

I realize that this is not a detailed attribution, but perhaps it will be of some help, and at least it suggests another line of research (Asian gaming tokens).

 

[ivan salis]

ah using the zeno coin site -- under far east * its listed as unknown token #12715 -- according to "comments" made on the site made by folks visiting the site theysay the translates roughly as follows on the monk / pagoda side -- "even a fool who can't do the simplist task" on the flip side "can win a prize " --- they think its a form of gambling token -- the wording is crudely done by some one not overly knowledgible of chinese they say - for use in the asain market --- it thought to be of about 1920's to 1940's era manufacture.

 

[Montana Jim]

Well done PBK... and nice follow-up Ivan!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

ah using the zeno coin site -- under far east * its listed as unknown token #12715 -- according to "comments" made on the site made by folks visiting the site theysay the translates roughly as follows on the monk / pagoda side -- "even a fool who can't do the simplist task" on the flip side "can win a prize " --- they think its a form of gambling token -- the wording is crudely done by some one not overly knowledgible of chinese they say - for use in the asain market --- it thought to be of about 1920's to 1940's era manufacture.

Way to go PBK and Ivan. I searched "Far East coin-like souvenirs" but couldnt find it and gave up.
Heres the link: http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=12715



#12715: Unidentified Token

Click on image to view larger image

Photo Details
Jackdaw



Registered: February 2005
Location: England
Posts: 351

· Date: 10-March-05 · Views: 296 ·
Additional Info
Keywords: Token
Weight, g: 3.6g
Size, mm: 19mm
Metal: AE





Author Thread

Chinasmith

Registered: June 2004
Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA
Posts: 2,198 14-May-05 4:30am


Probably made in Europe or the USA, judging from the blundered Chinese inscriptions. May have been a souvenir given away by a magician or a prize for children.



XIE

Registered: November 2003
Location: Moscow Russia
Posts: 3,908 14-May-05 6:15pm


The origin of the token is unknown to me, but inscription is as follows: Dai Zi Chong Mi 呆子春米 – “The sheller of a Fool”. Shows a man sitting in a box for rice near a sheller which is turned upside down. The meaning is that this man is a fool and cannot do the simplest work. Reverse -Hao Cai 好采 – “Funny”.



Chinasmith

Registered: June 2004
Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA
Posts: 2,198 17-May-05 1:18am


Though the Chinese is badly written, and written left to right, I think the reading by Xie is generally correct. The first character below the building is an abbreviated version of the character "tai" (pinyin, dai), and tai tzu (daizi) does mean a fool or a simpleminded person. The next two words, "ch'ung mi" (chongmi) mean to hull rice by pounding it. I'm not familiar with how rice is hulled, but perhaps the man on this medal is sitting in a box used for hulling rice. The joke is that this is not how to hull rice and the man is a fool or an [prohibited word deleted - violation of terms of use - attempts to circumvent this word filter may result in member banning]. I can't make out what he has in his hand. I tried to find my specimen of this piece last night, but could not find it. The building beside the man seems to be a western person's idea of what a pagoda looks like. I don't understand why Xie says it is upside down. As for the other side of this medal, I could not find the phrase "hao cai" in any of my dictionaries, but "cai hao" means to be lucky by winning a prize. I don't know whether this piece refers to some specific event, or is just intended to make fun of someone who tries to get rich by gambling instead of working. It is difficult to say when this piece was made, but I would guess 1920's to 1940's. Also can't say where it was made, but it was clearly made outside of China by someone unfamiliar with how to write Chinese characters.



XIE

Registered: November 2003
Location: Moscow Russia
Posts: 3,908 17-May-05 6:19am


Dear Chinasmith, you are right, "cai hao" or "hao cai" means to be lucky by winning a prize, it’s another meaning, so this item must be a gambling token. Actually, the thing near a man is not a building but a part of a sheller turned upside down. To understand why I wrote it is upside down, you must know how rice is hulled in China. I’ll send you a picture by e-mail soon to let you know.

 

[ivan salis]

thin k this ones about as solved as it will get ring it up folks.