Weltmünzen cash 140-87 BC v. Chr. Ban-liang w/unfinished edges, Wu Di (140-87 BC), W. Han, China (G/F 13.148)

Two large Chinese characters Ban Liang ("Half an ounce"), outer rim / "Rain lines", no rims. 25mm, 3.32 grams. Gratzer/Fishman "The Early Round Coins of China" #13.148; BM Chinese coins (Poole) #256ff; Hartill #7.29. SKU T1822-50066

With a mis-shapen "ban", unfinished rims and hole, with original casting stubble, rare as such. "Shizi" form of the "liang" character, with the lower part of "liang" is like a sideways "E". With the so-called "Rain Lines" on the reverse (probably just an artifact of a peculiar casting technique).

A Chinese ounce (liang) weighs about 16 grams. The earliest "Ban Liangs" weighed half that much - 8 grams, but the later pieces, like this one, weighed much less. These late Ban Liangs were cast during the reign of Emperor Wudi (140-87 BC), the date of the casting is ca.136-118 BC and they come from the last issue of Western Han dynasty Ban Liangs. 

This coin is unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic