Altered Coin

Large size circulating coin, value 5 cash coins. Higher value, due to inflation and military payments during Taiping uprising.

Round, 4 sided hole in centre, rim around outer edge and centre hole, obverse 4 characters, reverse 4 characters. Xianfeng zhongbao (top-bottom-right-left) in more relaxed style Chinese characters on obverse; boo yuwan left-right (mintmark) in Manchu, dang wu top, bottom (value 5) in Chinese on reverse. Irregular outer rim; chips from rim; fields slightly raised; file marks.