Cast coinage

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Cast coinage refers to coins made by pouring melted metal into a mold, i.e. casting. It has been used for regular coins, particularly in the Far East, but also on a smaller scale. (e.g.: the ancient Mediterranean world.) The method differs from the current mode of coin production, which is done by striking coin blanks that have been cut out of metal sheets. The method has also been used by forgers.

Far Eastern cash coins

Traditional Far Eastern cast coins - so-called 'cash coins' - are the most famous example of cast coinage, and were issued from the 4th century BCE to about 1912 CE, predominantly in bronze, brass or iron. Traditional Far Eastern coins were generally cast base metal coins, although silver and gold bars were also manufactured, e.g. Chinese sycee, Japanese obans and kobans, and Vietnamese lang and tien.