ZHOU: Spring and Autumn Period, 650-400 BC, AE bell money (18.37g), "bell money" (zhong qian or ch 'ung) with curved base, raised pellets in design, natural casting hole, VF, ex Shawn Hamilton Collection. Charles Opitz lists these with the comment that they were not currency, but are included in many collections. For many years they have been considered a form of money by some authors, but these have been found in tombs as sets of bells used for making music and sets include small bells up through large ones, each probably playing one note. Whether currency or not, they are still interesting artifacts.
Estimate: 75-100 USD