Reference
Note:
Hartill (GCC, page 148-9) assigns these coins to his category ‘Small Copper, Distinct calligraphy, Group 5 (“Broad Bao type”)’. However despite this assignment, he reports that the alloy composition of some of the coins in this group determined by XRF is ‘almost pure zinc’. He notes that the coins must have been issued before 1735, as all nine coins in this category were already listed as the 永利手 or Vĩnh Lợi Group in the undated Rekidai Kosenko by Nakatani Kozan who died in 1735. He considers that the series may have been playthings or gaming counters rather than circulating coins. Hartill’s information comes largely from a discussion thread started by Craig Greenbaum on the Zeno Oriental Coins Database website at https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=152279. A coin of this type is illustrated by Craig Greenbaum at https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=152298. Geographical attribution is still unclear. Vietnam has been proposed mainly because of its unique experience in producing zinc coins from 1663 during the restored Le dynasty era and for the next 200 years.
