Coin Value | China Shansi Province 10 Cash 1912

China Shansi Province 10 Cash 1912

Date: none	Mint mark: not apparent	Size: medium
Description: on one side there are two japanese symbels surronded by what looks like wheat or grass on either side its open at the top of the grass. on the other side there are are two flags one with strips and one with a star that are crossed and tied with something that looks like a bow and they are surronded by japanesse symbels. The side with that flags is similar to a coin on here that was call a China Hunan 20 Cash but the other side is nothing like it.
Composition: not precious	Wear: average circulated	Eye appeal: tainted
Country: japan or china	Denomination: not specified	Holder: raw
Damage: corrosion	Errors: none	Toning: brown

[Request 12159 received from Amie, Tuesday, 14-Aug-2012, answered by Paul]

The coin in our picture comes from Stack's Bowers where is sold for $3163 US dollars. Pictures of these valuable coins are difficult to find, and CoinQuest thanks Stack's Bowers for use of their coin photo.

If it is a genuine coin, Amie, you have a valuable piece. The corrosion will work against value.

DO NOT CLEAN YOUR COIN. CLEANING RUINS VALUE.

Here is what the catalogs say about a Shansi 10 cash:

worn: $35 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $150
well preserved: $220

You can see there is a vast discrepancy between catalog price and actual (Stack's Bowers) price. This is very typical for coin pricing. Catalogs are only rough indicators. Apparently, at the Stack's Bowers auction, there were some bidders who *really wanted* this coin. The price rose accordingly.

With all valuable coins, and especially with Chinese coins, you must be careful about counterfeits. They are all over the place. This points to the importance of buying and selling only with respectable dealers, and having your coin authenticated, graded, and encapsulated by one of these services: PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG. Do not use other services.