Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1877 — Chinese Coin. [ARTICLE]

Chinese Coin.

In China the Government loug,ago ceased to coin the precious metals or regulate “ the value thereof.” Goldin China is not money; silver is money, but neither is coined. Both are merchandise, and pass by weight and fineness. The Chinese Government provides one coin—and one coin only— for the use of

its people, namely, an ugly, coarse and comparatively heavy disc, composed mainly of iron, with a little copper; cast, and not stamped, and bearing some rude characters, letters or signs upon its surface. This coin, which is known among foreigners by the name of “ cash,” has a value of about one mill, American money, and is made with a hole in the center for convenience in stringing in tens and its decimal multiples.