ORIENTAL.
Oriental coins are not as attractive as other varieties, though there are special coins among them which have no rival in historic importance. Antique coins from the East were usually without device, and, their legends being rudely inscribed in a dead language, proved frequently to be sealed fountains to the thirsting antiquarian. Therefore in cases marked “Oriental” the visitor is undetermined where to begin to study, and often decides to give it but little time.
Those having for device the sacred peacock are from Burmah; there is, however, in the division marked “Selections” a very curious coin belonging to that country, which certainly formed a part of its earliest currency. It is a common gravel-stone, encased in a circling band of brass.
Coins of Siam.
The coins of Siam are much sought for. Some of them, known to European travelers as “bullet money,” are lumps of gold or silver, hammered by rude implements into a doubtful roundness, and a few Siamese characters stamped irregularly upon them. The sacred elephant is found on a large proportion of their money. A Siamese coin in the Cabinet, of modern date, is quite handsome in both workmanship and design. On the obverse is the sacred elephant in ponderous proportion, which delights the eyes of the devout, and the reverse presents a group of three pagodas, finely drawn. In the case marked “Selections” is a Siamese coin of gold, comparatively modern, called “Tecal,” corresponding in some respects to the “Shekel,” or “Oxen,” of biblical fame.
Chinese Coins.
On the south side of the first section is a case of seven hundred coins of the Celestial Empire. With but few exceptions these coins are bronzed. Dynasty succeeds dynasty; usurpation, insurrection, are all writ in bronze. The Chinese assert an uninterrupted coinage for forty-one centuries. The manuscript attesting this is in the case, and was prepared under authority. Large numbers of their coins were considered charms, sufficient to protect the owner against fever, or even the more dreaded horrors of spiritual menace. In this connection it may be said that the Chinese had an exalted reverence for the coin-charm, and a small coin was often placed in the mouth of the dead (now, if a Chinaman dies in California, a small silver United States coin is placed on his tongue). These coins were covered with cabalistic characters, symbolic animals, birds, etc. Two worthy of notice in this regard, and said to be of the oldest issue, are Nos. 1 and 2. The first might be mistaken for an iron safe-key; the second is known as the “razor coin,” its form and almost its size being that of a razor.
In another case, appropriately labeled, is the Chinese porcelain money. They are the only people who have made porcelain a “legal tender,” though it would appear that almost every part of the three kingdoms of nature has been laid under contribution. The specimen here may be mistaken for the popular Chinese sleeve-button, bought in any bazaar for a few cents. The Chinese, as did also the Africans, utilized the small sea-shells for trade. In the same case are some of the variety legalized. Ten small shells made one “cash.” This is a small, round, copper-bronzed coin, with a square hole in the centre. The Chinese dames of high degree wore such strung around their throats. One thousand of them are equal to our dollar. The Japanese, however, outcount their neighbors, as they have a bronze coin called the “One-hundredth,” of which just seven thousand make one Spanish dollar.
Shell money of pure gold, “or gold beaten into small solid shells, was made by those natives who supplied the Portuguese slave-traders with slaves,” and was called by the traders “Spondylus Macutus,” from which, some contend, came the slang term “spondulics.” Forty of those small coins, each worth about a dollar of Spanish money, was a high price for a slave.
There is also in the Cabinet a valuable collection of African ring money. These ornaments are very massive and pure, comprised of elaborately carved “signet-rings, armlets, anklets,” etc. One article, more novel and valuable than the others, is a pipe of fine gold, bowl and handle of curious bas-relief figures, and a heavy, square-linked chain attaching a large medallion, on which is the head of a monarch poorly drawn.
The Chinese government, like all despotisms, is very jealous of its coining prerogatives; yet it does not fail to appreciate an advantage when offered, as is evident to us by the following:
Proclamation for general information:
“Whereas, The foreign silver (coin) in daily use among the people of the Kwang Tung Provinces has long been in circulation, and is moreover admitted to be advantageous and convenient. In the 5th and 11th years of Tung Chih (1866 and 1872) the Hong Kong Mint coined a new Dollar which, upon comparison with pure silver, bore a proportion of fully ninety per cent., and as the Records will prove. Proclamations were issued notifying the people that it might come into general circulation. There has lately come to Hong Kong a newly coined American Eagle Dollar, called the “Trade Dollar,” and Sir Brooke Robinson, the British Consul, having requested that officers might be appointed to assay it, the Viceroy and Haikwan thereupon appointed officers to melt it down and assay it, in concert with (an officer from the British Consulate), when, taking the Haikwan Tael of pure silver as the standard, an outturn was obtained of fully 89.61—or Taels 111.6 of this new Eagle Dollar are equal to 100 Haikwan Taels of pure silver. Minutes of the assay were drawn up in proof thereof.
“For the convenience of Traders and people, therefore, this coin should be allowed to be tendered in payment of duties at the rate of touch obtained at the assay, and to come into daily circulation. It becomes the duty then of the Viceroy and his colleagues to issue a Proclamation on the subject for general information.
“This Proclamation, therefore, is for the information of you merchants, traders, soldiers, and people of every district. You must know that the ‘Eagle Trade Dollar’ that has lately come to Hong Kong has been jointly assayed by officers specially appointed for the purpose, and it can be taken in payment of duties, and come into general circulation. You must not look upon it with suspicion. At the same time rogues, sharpers, and the like, are hereby strictly forbidden to fabricate spurious imitations of this new Eagle Dollar, with a view to their own profit.
“And should they dare to set this prohibition at defiance, and fabricate false coin, they shall, upon discovery, most assuredly be arrested and punished. Let every one obey with trembling! Let there be no disobedience!
“A Special Proclamation. Tung Chih 12th year, 9th moon—day (October, 1873.)
“Translated by
“(Signed) WALTER C. HILLIER.”
Japan.
Perhaps the peculiar adaptability of the Japanese character cannot be better illustrated than by their late monetary revolution, especially as their coinage is hedged around with laws, with penal attachments of no doubtful character. In the small morocco case marked “Japan” are a few specimens of their original coin. Of this series the large gold plate, four inches by three and a half, is known as the “Gold Oban,” their most valuable coin, worth about seventy-five dollars. This coin is of perfectly smooth surface, with an elaborate black inscription of Japanese text, burnt in by a chemical process. To take the “Gold Oban” out of the kingdom is punishable with death; to remove it by mistake, subjects the offender to imprisonment for life. The other coins in this case are, in their composition and shape, as distinctive as the Japanese are peculiar as a people. The progressive character of the Japanese is exemplified by their recent acceptance of the United States system of coinage.
The mind of the Japanese proletaire has been much troubled in recent years with regard to the coinage of his country; not that he ever has much of the currency in question, but the Japanese proletaire has no pockets, and he finds it awkward to carry in his hands such coins as he contrives to possess. In ancient times his rulers were more considerate. They punched square holes in the centre of the coins, through which he passed a string, and was thus able to carry about his available capital tied around his neck or to his waistband, which in those days was his sole garment. The coins were not large in amount; it took a thousand of them to make a few shillings, while a cart was required to convey five dollars worth. But with civilization came an improved coinage, larger in value, and with no holes, and the pocketless proletaire naturally grumbled that civilization treated him hardly in this respect. Paper currency for small amounts partially satisfied him for a time; but at last his cries have been heard, and the Japanese Government has promised to issue a new coin specially for his behoof. Its value is rather less than one cent, and is to possess the indispensable hole, by which he can string it as a child strings beads, and he is probably content.