China
Ming Dynasty. Tai Zu (1368-1398) 2 Cash ND (1368-1393) Certified 80 by Gong Bo Grading, Fu mint (Fukien Province), FD-1916, Hartill-20.79, Jen-532, Shanghai Museum-345. 29.8mm. 7.1gm. With characters Er Fu on reverse. An iconic and elusive type bearing the Emperor's reign name Hong Wu, and one closely mirroring the economic difficulties that plagued late Yuan and Ming China. Though introduced in far larger numbers than the trickle of coinage that had persisted throughout the Yuan period, the Hong Wu Cash still failed to meet the nationwide need for copper currency, and was ultimately phased out in favor of paper money when the price of copper dropped in 1393. By that time, it has been supposed than all furnaces in operation throughout China produced an annual output of a mere 189,000 strings (1.89 million) Cash--less than 3% of the annual average during Northern Song, and indeed, even lower than that during Han. As such, it remains difficult for collectors to locate specimens to this day, a fact confirmed by a single record in recent sales, part of Steve Album's January 2015 sale of the Zhao Quanzhi Collection (Auction 21, Lot 902).
https://coins.ha.com/itm/china/china-ming-dynasty-tai-zu-1368-1398-2-cash-nd-1368-1393-certified-80-by-gong-bo-grading-/a/3100-34007.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3100-07072022
HID02906262019
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Estimate: 5000-6000 USD