The Chinese Coin Motif: Shape, History and Modern Charms
The Chinese Coin Motif: Shape, History and Modern Charms
The shape and why it exists
Traditional Chinese cash coins were cast bronze discs with a square hole in the centre. The hole was practical: coins were strung on a cord in hundreds so they could be counted and carried. The round-and-square form was later read symbolically as heaven and earth, but the design began as a solution to stringing and filing.
Coins in folk art
Coin motifs appear on textiles, furniture, locks and paper charms. A common pattern is a coin tied with a ribbon, or a coin combined with a bat, which puns on words for fortune. Coins were also buried, hung above doors, and sewn into children's clothing. The intent behind these customs varied by region and century, and most of the meaning survives as decoration rather than practice.
Old coins versus modern charms
- Real cash coins. Antique, collectable, and often corroded. They have numismatic value and should be bought from coin dealers, not jewellery shops.
- Modern cast charms. New brass or bronze pieces made in the traditional shape. Sold as jewellery components or decorative objects. No collectable value.
- How to tell. Modern charms are uniform, often have a smooth machine finish, and may carry a maker's mark on the edge. Genuine old coins are uneven, softly struck, and show wear on the high points.
Brass and skin
Brass contains copper and zinc. It tarnishes with sweat and can leave a green mark on skin, and it may irritate people with metal sensitivity. Lacquered or plated pieces resist this for a while; the coating wears with friction. If you react to cheap jewellery, choose sterling silver or stainless steel instead.
Common questions
Are these real coins?
Our coin charms are modern cast brass pieces made in the traditional form. They are not currency, not antiques, and carry no numismatic value.
Why is the hole square?
So that filed coins could be stacked on a square rod during manufacture, and so that strung coins would not rotate on the cord.
Will the brass turn my skin green?
It can, especially in summer. The mark washes off. A clear lacquer coating slows it down.
What this page does not claim
We do not claim that a coin charm brings wealth, luck or protection. The motif is presented as folk art and history. Our pieces are decorative, are not legal tender, and are not sold as antiques or collectables.