Superb quality very rare graded Si Zhu cash, ca.175-136 BC (?), Emperor Wen Di (180-157 BC) and his successors, Western Han dynasty, China

Chengxiang (“chancellor”) / Si Zhu (“4 zhu”). 11mmx11mm, 4mm thick, 2.6 grams. Hartill #3.53 (incorrectly read as “Yan Xiang”); Gratzer/Fishman #A14.11 (with a loop). 

Extremely rare and high quality, known only from a few specimens. Seems to be unpublished without a loop. Clear legends, original patina. This issue is one of the few which does not show location but an important title, suggesting these were privately issued coins (made very differently from the Imperial Ban Liangs so they are not confused with each other) which saw only local circulation. 

The 4-zhu coins were usually cast from unalloyed copper and are usually found in a poor state of preservation. High quality examples are very rare.