David Hartill Libros

First published in 2005, this catalogue has become the standard reference work for cast Chinese coins. It covers both the early spade and knife coins that were used from around 600 BC and the square holed "cash" coins that were the coinage of China from the 4th century BC until the end of the Empire in the 20th century. Special attention is given to the red copper coins of Xinjiang. As well as the catalogue, there is copious background information concerning the use and manufacture of these coins, and numerous charts, maps, and tables to help both the expert and the novice to identify their coins. The second edition has been extensively edited, and contains some new coins and sections. Awarded the Lhotka Prize by the Royal Numismatic Society.

This book is intended to guide the beginner and expert through the many kinds of cash - the square-holed coin of China for centuries - produced in China and the many imitations of them produced at various times all over the Far East and along the Silk Road. The first part of the book is a Finding Guide which directs the reader to the appropriate standard work on Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese or Korean coins. In the second half, information not in the standard works is presented, either from other publications and papers, or from the author's own research.