CHINA: AE charm, CCH-1724, 37mm, tian xia tai ping (Peace under Heaven) // the Chinese eight trigrams (bagua), likely a mu qian (mother coin) or yang qian (sample coin), a lovely example! EF, RR.

The expression "tian xia tai ping" first appeared in the ancient Chinese encyclopedic text Lüshi Chunqiu, known in English as Mister Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, which was compiled about 239 BC. The full line reads "tian xia tai ping wan wu an ning" which means "when there is peace under heaven, all things are tranquil and calm". This simplified expression "tian xia tai ping" is frequently found on Chinese charms beginning in the Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). The inscription may be translated as "peace under heaven", "peace and tranquility under heaven" or "an empire at peace". Cast in the 19th century issue as the fabric, manufacturing style and metal are consistent with that period of the Qing dynasty.

Estimate: 4,000-5,000 USD