Coins & Numismatics
Coin collecting rests on grade, variety, rarity and patina. The same reign title may differ several-fold in value by variety; sycee are judged on inscription, weight and fineness.
Reviewed by the Heritage Global specialist team · Updated 2026-10
Chronology
From early wares to the modern market — the eras that define this category.
Pre-Qin — the first moneys
Spade, knife and ant-nose coinages; attribution rests on archaic calligraphy and region of origin.
Qin–Han — the round coin
Qin banliang fixed the round-with-square-hole form; the Han wuzhu circulated for over seven centuries.
Tang–Song — the era of 'tongbao'
The Kaiyuan tongbao inaugurated the naming and mother-coin system; Song reign-title coins and matched calligraphy pairs gave birth to variety studies.
Ming–Qing — cash and 'great money'
Ming cash circulated widely; Xianfeng's military needs produced denominations of ten to one thousand, whose varieties dominate Qing collecting.
Late Qing–Republican — machine striking
Dragon dollars and Yuan Shikai dollars, with a thicket of provincial mints and foreign contractors; pattern and signed strikes crown the field.
Masters & Workshops
The names, ateliers and schools that anchor authentication and value.
The Board Mint and provincial mints
Qing coins were struck by the two Board mints and provincial branches, mint names in Manchu on the reverse — the first key to variety classification.
The Central Mint and dragon dollars
The Tianjin Central Mint opened in 1903, standardising provincial dragon dollars; central versus provincial origin drives price tiers.
Sycee inscriptions
Sycee bear stamped place, smith, weight and purpose; complete inscriptions reconstruct fiscal routes, adding documentary to monetary value.
Frequently Asked
How are coins graded?
Typically uncirculated, extremely fine, very fine and so on — wear, striking flaws and naturalness of patina are decisive.
Is a damaged coin still valuable?
Yes. Rare varieties retain market value despite flaws; specialists apply an appropriate grade discount in the reference range.
How are bulk coins valued?
Photograph them together noting quantity and principal varieties; after an initial review, individual pieces requiring closer study can be examined.
Ready to consign?
Send six or more photographs for an expert opinion and a reference estimate in HKD.