Expert: Jennifer - 9/2/2007

Question
When I was a child some time in the late 70's, I dug a coin out of the ground at my grandfather's ranch in East Texas.  Even at the time I thought it was weird that I would find something that had Asian writing on it, but other than that I didn't give it another thought.  Recently, I found the coin again going through some things at my parent's home.  I have matched the coin to be from the Qing Dynasty listed as, "Qian Long Tong Bao" on some Asian coin websites.  I realize that your expertise is in other areas, but I just wanted to ask if you knew why I would have found this coin in Crockett, TX, in the late 70's.  Just thought it was interesting.  Thank you, NF

Answer
Hi!

It is possible to find the coin in Crockett, TX in the late 70s, especially if it was uncovered through an archaeological dig. Many people left China during the Qing dynasty to Nanyang  (Southeast Asia), America and some other regions as well, so it would be possible for a coin like which you have described to be found in the States.