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10 old Chinese Bamboo Tallies
10 old Chinese Bamboo Tallies

10 old Chinese Bamboo Tallies

$ 12.14

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Original/Reproduction: Antique Original
  • Age: abt. 1870's - 1940's
  • Condition: These tallies were used frequently in trade and business, thus they show wear commensurate with their age and function. However, many of the Chinese characters are still quite legible.
  • Region of Origin: China
  • Primary Material: Bamboo
  • Color: weathered brown

    Description

    A supplemental or alternative currency produced and used primarily in eastern provinces of China, especially in
    Jiangsu, Zhejiang
    and
    Shandong
    . The time-period of use was from about the 1870’s to the 1940’s (basically post Taiping Rebellion period).
    Often produced by businesses and used in a similar fashion as tokens, many tallies have the business name or manufacturer on one side or a separate panel. The other side, or panel, would generally indicate the valuation. The value could be denoted in denominations of WEN, QIAN, strings of cash coins, or (later) in 10 WEN machine made cash coins. Some businesses used the FEN, which was a denomination usually associated with paper currency. Bamboo tallies could be used in other ways as well. This assortment contains a variety of types, age and conditions. These tallies range in length from abt. 32mm - 105mm