
Two Chinese characters Ban Liang ("Half an ounce"), inner and outer rim / Flat, no rims. 24.5mm, 2.32 grams. Gratzer/Fishman "The Early Round Coins of China" #13.59v (not early period); Hartill #-. SKU T1909-50027
Late issue, rare with the inner and outer rims, not listed in Hartill or G/F. In Gratzer/Fishman ("The Early Round Coins of China") this type is listed only for the early type Ban Liang (G/F #A13.59), but this coin belongs to the late issue - the late issues of this variety are not listed in this catalogue. "Renzi" liang describes the shape of the character "liang".
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