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Subject:Re: Markings on Sycee Boat
Posted By: Bill H Sat, Dec 29, 2018
The markings shown in the bottom photo include two circular impressions, each with a large character Fa (發), meaning "Issued". The larger middle impression among three in the center grouping says 'Silver Ingot of Taigu" (太谷元寶 - Tai-gu Yuan Bao), while the impression to its right says "Dongchang Road (東昌道 - Dong-chang Dao). I'm not quite certain what the characters in the other impression on the left say. I would add that "Silver Ingot" is a standard meaning for "Yuanbao/元寶" and used here in context. However, it doesn't imply that I think your ingot contains any silver. Caveat emptor!
Taigu is a county in the prefectural-level city of Jinzhong in China's Shanxi Province. I gather from some of the stuff I encountered online that it was once an important financial center, but being a porcelain collector, I'm about as dumb as dirt when it comes to old or new Chinese money. Hopefully someone in the forum does know something about these matters.
Good luck,
Bill H.
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