English: TARTAR DYNASTIES      1115 - 1280 AD    

The inscription of this cash coin reads clockwise as Da'an Yuanbao (大安元宝). The cash coin Inscription was cast during the years 1085-1093.

This is the "small an" or "short an" (duan an 短安) variety of the coin. The yuan (元) Chinese character on some "small an" cash coins has a "right shoulder" (右挑元) which is particularly rare.

There is also a "long an" (chang an 长安) variety in which the an character is bigger. "Long an" cash coins with a "two shoulder yuan" (双挑元) character are also very rare.

Some coins have a "crescent" / "moon" (月) or "dot" / "star" (星) on the reverse side but they are fairly scarce.

    H 18 . 11b      LIAO: Zhong Xi tong bao     Cash small chars. variety (commonest) 23.5 mm, 3.491 g     FD1621, S1065, HG817/3     VF 
    H 18 . 17      LIAO: Da An yuan bao     Cash Robust coin, short An: 24.4mm, 3.167g Rosette hole Vg, green $40; 24.1mm, 3.414g F, brown     FD1626, S1070, HG824/1     
    H 18 . 18      LIAO: Da An yuan bao     Cash Small, light coins, Tall An: H18.18(a) 22.mm, 2.565g F D1627, HG824/2 Vg  $150; H18.18b 21.9 mm, 1.730 g HG824/3 AVF         
    H 18 . 21      LIAO: Qian Tong yuan bao     Cash Two specimens with identical? calligraphy. I am suspicious of #2 because Tong tilts with the rosette center rim while the other characters do not. What does this mean? Other than this, the two pieces are more similar than their images indicate because #2 has been cleaned (except the edge) and is less worn. The interior metal color is comparable as are shape and patination of edges. The pimpling on #2 can be laid to very little wear; note the flattened (worn) pimples on rev. of #1.     #1: 23.4mm, 3.561g; #2 23.7mm, 3.852g FD1629, S1073, HG826/2; Offering #1:     VF 
    H 18 . 43       JIN: Da Ding tong bao     Cash Chars rev: H18.43 Shen above FD1641, S1087, HG842/2 F  $12; H10.47 You above FD1643, S1089, HG843/1 VF         
    H 18 . 60      JIN: Tai He tong bao     3 Cash Large chars., normal rim 30.8 mm, 7.198 g     HG847/6     F 
    H 18 . 91      W. XIA: Da An Bao Qian     Tangut script 23.1 mm, 3.636 g     FD1679, HG861/2     Vg 
    H 18 . 97      W. XIA: Tian Sheng yuan bao     Cash Commonest of dynasty. None of this dynasty are as well cast as contemporary Song coins.     FD1683, S1078, HG866/1     As-made hoard coins, samples shown (bottom left is cleaned and retoned), with green patina as found, or cleaned, your choice: 
    H 18 . 99b      W. XIA: Tian Sheng yuan bao     IRON Cash Small Yuan 22.8 mm, 3.285 g     FD1684, HG866/3     crude F 
    H 18 . 102      W. XIA: Qian You yuan bao     Cash 23.7 mm, 4.493 g     FD1686, S1079, HG868/1, J426     EF 
    H 18 . 104      W. XIA: Qian You yuan bao     IRON Cash a) Tall Bao 24.2 mm, 3.637 rough VF b) Short Bao 24.6 mm, 3.812 g rough F     FD1689, S1080, HG868/5     Each: 

    H 18 . 106      W. XIA: Tian Qing yuan bao     Cash 23.9 mm, 5.554 g     FD1691, HG870/1, J427     bold F .