I found these in my late grandfather's collection and I couldn't identify them, but then again I don't really know much about old Chinese coins (these could be fake for all I know...) but if anybody would like to give me any information about them that'd be nice!
Can't tell you what they are, but they don't appear to be either Chinese or Japanese coins. I know very little about Annamese (Vietnam) or Korean coins, but they also don't seem to be either of those. They may be religious charms of some sort. We do have a couple of experts on Chinese cash coins, so hang in there and one of them may be able to give you better info than mne.
Hmmm thanks for the insight. I'm still searching the web for any info on the markings but I can't seem to find any :\ hopefully someone here can let me know like you said. Edit: This is actually easier than I thought lol. I edited my original post with what I found.
The top one is a fake of a Ban Liang coin of the Qin or Han dynasty. The bottom three are genuine (or contemporary imitation) coins of Emperor Gao Zong, with the Qian Long reign title - 1736-1795. The mintmarks are on the reverse of the later three coins but I can't make them out from the pictures.
Thanks for your help! It's a shame the first coin was a fake. I have a question about the 4th coin though. It looks to me like two letters on the obverse share the same pattern as the Shan Lung variety (http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/china/china8.htm#chien lung) of the Chien Lung, but the other two share the same pattern as the regular Chien Lung coins? I'm not an expert on these it just caught my eye.
Qian Long = Shan Lung = Chien Lung, they are all the same name using different transliteration systems. All three read Qian Long Tong Bao.
Coin #3 is Sheng Zu(1662-1722) Shan Long is a variety of the Qian Long issues. The Long(bottom) character is different. In your second picture, the top right picture illustrates the Shan Long variety.
You are of course correct. Now that you've pointed that out, the mintmark makes sense to me. Sheng Zu, Kangxi reign title. Guangzhou, Guangdong mint. Cast 1686-circa 1703. Hartill 22.103
