Watch List notes:

(t) CHINA. Qing Dynasty. Guangdong. Poem Cash, ND (ca. 1875-1908). Guangzhou or Zhaoqing Mint. Emperor De Zong (Guang Xu). Certified "78" by Zhong Qian Ping Ji Grading Company.
Hartill-pg. 291. Weight: 5.6 gms. "Guang Xu tong bao"; Reverse: "Guang". An attractive and wholesome survivor exhibiting signs of handling consistent for the grade with even wear, smooth rims and naturally rough surface texture in the protected areas displaying lovely brassy tone and richer coloration in the fields and crevasses.

Hartill states that this series of issues were originally manufactured barring the name of Emperor Kangxi and could be arranged to form a four line poem that rhymes following the form traditional Chinese poetry. He goes on the cite Schjoth "If genuine and placed together, they have the power of expelling evil influences and of preventing fires. Their genuineness according to popular belief can be tested by placing them, when strung together, on the top of a Chicken-coop: if genuine, they will prevent the cocks from crowing in the morning." Clearly there many renditions of these poem coins were manufactured throughout the remainder of the Qing dynasty barring various Imperial names.

Estimate: $75.00- $125.00