MING: Da Zhong, 1361-1368, AE 5 cash (14.84g), Zhejiang Province, H-20.43, with zhe above on reverse, light old tooling evident in reverse fields, ex Jiùjinshan Collection, Dr. Allan Pacela Collection. Zhu Yuanzhang, later Hongwu, was already in control of Nanjing from 1356 and was conferred the title of "Duke of Wu" by the rebel leader Han Lin'er in 1361. He started autonomous rule as the self-proclaimed "Prince of Wu" on 4 February 1364. He was proclaimed emperor on 23 January 1368 and established the Ming dynasty on that same day.
Estimate: 100-150 USD