Authentic Experimental: Pure Bronze Content in the coin

Here I have decided to give you an actual check on the authentic of the material content of these coins.
Certainly, these check cost money loss.
I have decided to use one of my collection to do an experiment test on the material of the coin to proves its authenticity.

It is a very simple testing method if you are willingly to sacrifice your coin worthiness.

Test Method 1: Check its purities of material content. Look out for any mixtues of composition.
The benchmark : Bronze material.
1.1 Wash away the dirt on the surface.
1.2 Compare the surface of Patina coating.
Result: The surface after washing will loss the Patina coating. Only those thick patina will remained. The background of the surface look "black" color because of bronze content present.

Note: IF YOU'RE NOT DOING FOR EXPERIMENT TEST: DO NOT WASH THE COIN OR CLEAN AWAY THE SOIL IN THE COIN. THIS DESTROYED THE AUTHENTICITY.WASHING OR CLEANING AWAY THE SOIL AND PATINA COATING WILL DEVALUE THE COIN ANTIQUE VALUE & WORTHINESS.

Test Method Nos. 2: Magnetic Test
2.1 Use a strong magnet to test on the coin.
2.2 Check whether is there any Steel or Iron material present content.
The benchmark: The coin is PURE BRONZE material by original.
There shouldn't be any Iron or Steel content present in the coin material.
It has to be pure Bronze material content.
2.3 Use the magnet to stick test on the coins whether it stick to magnet?
If it stick to magnet. It prove that the coin is not bronze coin.

What material contents made of during Shang ; Zhou; Qin;Han period?
The basic material of coin made of bronze material. Because it is a bronze age era in which bronze material is the main raw material for making utensils and ornament like coins and morror and vessels.
Therefore,Wang Mang coins ; Knife coins; Sabre coins has to be made from bronze material. Pure Bronze coins does not stick to the magnet.

The result of my coins : Pure Bronze. Refer to my photo taken on 3rd May-2009

What material does today coin made of?
USA Quarters coin, dimes, and half dollars are cupro-nickel clad. Each coin has a copper core and an outer layer, the “clad,” made of 75 percent copper and 25 percent cupro-nickel alloy. Nickels are made from the same 75-25 alloy.
The Golden Dollar is also a clad coin. The alloy layers on each side of the copper core are manganese brass, a golden-colored material composed of 77% copper, 12% zinc, 7% manganese, and 4% nickel.
The One cent coin, was once made of copper coin, is now composed of copper-plated zinc. Copper-plated cents cost less to manufacture, and at 2.5 grams each, they weigh about 20% less than the older cent, which was 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc.

Coin made from my own country SINGAPORE
The old series was made with a mixture of Copper-clad -steel & Cupro-Nickel-clad-Steel
The current series coins now made of:
10 cent; 20 cents; 50 cents : CuproNickel
5 cents & 1$ coin: AlumBronze
1 cent: Cupper-plated Zinc

Do you know your country series of coins made of what material?
You can test it out easily by using the same methods I applied using method 2 & 3.

Test Method Nos. 3 In-depth test on inside the surface
3.1 This is the final test on material which will devalue the coin antique value.
3.2 Use a precision file tool to file out the external coating on the surface.
Note: Once you file into the inner surface of the coin, you will see the inner depth of the material.
This is the most convincing to prove the authenticity of the coin.
3.3 You will see the inner depth of the coin material. The bronze should be seen visible & clear.
Refer to my photo taken on 3rd May-2009.

Note: Again, This filing method will damage the coin surface. The filing will cause the coin devalue........Meaning the coin become less antique value.

Conclusion: IF you don't wish to damage your coin aand cause devalue of your coin. It is recommended to use my Method Test No. 4 which is the most simple and Zero Risk to the damage and devalue.

Test Method Nos. 4
4.1 Use the Antique Coin Blue-print guide book
4.2 Place your coin to the blue-print to fit in and match the coin with the blue-print.
If it is the authentic coin, it should match and fit the blue-print.
4.3 Then another check is to use the Magnet Test to ensure it does not have Steel or Iron content in the coin.

Conclusion: Are you willing to give up one of your coin to test it?

Now, my this coin may be worth only US$125..........But it is worth a test to teach new collectors and researchers how to understand the way to study Ancient China Coins. I may have to look for another 700 HuoBu coin to replace this coin I have tested. But it is a worthy test.

JUE White JADE Cup from Eastern Han dynasty

This Jue-Cup from Eastern Han Dynasty priod. ( A.D. 25-220) It is made of white jade. The design is very unique and beautiful. The cup handle was design of a female dancer. The face of the dancer was quite visible.The costume worn was a Han dynasty costume. The head dress was a Han dynasty women head-dress in those days. The top mouth piece has multiple dots design. This dot design was a design from Han's period.
It is used by the royal duchess or princess. This is the only piece that ever been found. You will never find this price at any museum. It is very rare and a very fine piece.
Double click it to take a closer look.
Hope you enjoyed this piece which is one of my favorite jade piece in my jade collection.

Email me or leave your contact on comment if you are interested.

Ancient China Bronze Chimes and Bronze Vessels

This is an excavation site after detected ancient artifacts.These sites are official sites which official govt. curators and archeologists were called in to digged these sites. These artifacts became the states property.

There may be many cases in which such sites may not be informed. Hence, local people digged these artifacts and sold out of China for money. As such, many of these artifacts may not necessary be kept under the records at China Museum Library. Therefore, it make these artifacts much even worthy and pricless.

Notice: These sites are extremely dry as a result these artifacts were kept in a good condition.

China DinoSaur - Bird eggs Yunnan loacation

This is an artist impression about the China Dinosaur bird called " Confucisornis".

The egg was found in a deep mountain cave location: Yun-nan. When it was found it was a long sharp edges fully covered with lime rock. Until you break the lime rock, then you will see the egg.

How was it found?

These Chinese actually went in search for Cystral and rocks, when the broke open these sharp spike limes rock, they discovered each lime rock has a fossil dinosaur egg.

After chip off these limes rock finally the eggs hidden inside these lime become visible.There were about ten eggs. I managed to buy 4 eggs through the middle party seller.

How much does it worth?

Look out for my next publication on the worthiness of dinosaur eggs from China................reported in the newspaper.

What kind of dinosour eggs?

It was believe to belong to the dinosaur bird.

The bird name is called " Confucius Bird"( Confuciusornis) . The bird look like a MAPIE-bird. The size of the bird is not so big in size. Lived about 120 millions years ago. It is the only type of dinosaur bird found in China today.

See picture above.

Email me or leave your contact on comment if you are interested.

Rare Tortise Shell from Shang Dynasty

This tortise shell is originated from Shang dynasty. ( 1,700 ~ 1,027 BC )
You can see similar tortise shell at Tapei National Musuem; Shanghai and Beijing Museums.
It is very rare to find such boen oracles. Not even in our Singapore Museum.

Double click on the photo if you want to take a closer look. Storage for this shell MUST BE KEPT AT A DRY PLACE..........

Email me or leave your contact on comment if you are interested.

BELL MONEY from Eastern Zhou Dynasty

This bell money is another rare piece which is originated from Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-221 B.C ).
There are also replica bell money which made from Song dynasty. But its design is different from the zhou patten.

Some researchers dispute over this bell whether it was used for money application or it may not be for money application. Whatsoever it is, Zhou period certainly have very good design for money with all sort of shapes and patterns. If spade and knife & Sabre can be used for money, why not the bell?

A MUST BOOKS for Researcher & Collector

This book is highly recommended for researcher and collector who are seriously interested to take up studies on the pattern and design of Ancient China Bronzes vessel and ornaments.

It is really hard to find such books. It gives detail and explanation as which patterns and designs belong to which dynasty. And how these patterns changes from one era to another era.

This is another large book with thick pages dictionary on China Bone Oracles ( Bon Inscription ). This dictionary is highly recommended for those researchers and collectors interested in taking up China Ancient Language and tracing back its original Chinese writings to the present days writing.

But readers need to understand Chinese Language.

This is a page that you can see its writing and indepth explanation.

This is a pictorial Ancient China Bronze Age Vessel & Ornament which is published by Shanghai Museum.

Inside this book it cover all those bronzes you can find them on displayed at the museum. This is also a large book.

Among all nation wide Chinese Musuem in China, Shanghai Musuem has got the most collection of Bronzes. If you happen to be in Shanghai China. Take a trip down to visit the museum. Don't missed the chance to see these bronzes for yourselves. You will love these bronzes at first sight. This was what happened when I first visited. Thereafter, I have great interest in collecting China Bronzes.