18 
Dr. Hoernle —Antiquities from Central Asia. [Extra No. 1, 
All the ancient coins are of copper, except one which appears to he of 
lead. All the mediaeval and modern coins are of a species of bronze or 
brass. 
(a) Ancient Coins. 
(1) Coins without legends. (Plate II, figs. 1 a-d.) 
These coins number 27. They are of three different sizes : 
large, 11 specimens, size 0*7-0*9", weight 21*5-31 grs. 
middle, 11 „ , „ 066-075", „ 11*5-15*5 grs. 
small, 5 ,, , „ 0*5", „ 5-8 grs. 
Two good specimens are shown in the British Museum Catalogue, large, 
No. 180 (p. 340), and middle, No. 407 (p. 399), weighing 38 and 19 
grains respectively. Most of the specimens in our collection are not in 
an equally good condition. Their weight is much lighter, their shape 
is very irregular (some nearly square), and their rim in many cases is 
very narrow (down to T x y of an inch). They have clearly been sub¬ 
jected to much clipping. 
This class of coins appears to have been current under both Han 
dynasties, the Former or Western as well as the Later or Eastern. 
Those of our collection must belong to the later period, i.e. t 25-220 
A.D., as Khotau came into closer contact with China only from about 
the middle of the first century A.D. 
(2) Coins with an obverse legend of two symbols. (PI. II, 2, 3). 
The coins of this class number 16. They consist of the following: 
(а) With the legend Wu-Tcliu or ‘Five Tchus ’; 9 specimens; 
five well preserved (PI. II, fig. 2), weighing 33-38 grains and measuring 
1 inch; four considerably rubbed and clipped, weighing 15-25*5 grains 
and measuring 075-1'0 inches. Compare British Museum Catalogue , 
Nos. 315 , 316 , 398-403 (pp. 363, 396). 
(б) With the legend Ho-tsiuen or ‘ Spring of goods ’; 2 specimens, 
weighing 34 and 20 grains, and measuring 0875 and 0*8 inches; too 
indifferently preserved to be figured, but like British Mus. Cat , No. 
365 ff. (p. 334). 
(c) With unread legend, see Plate II, fig. 3 ; apparently lead; one 
specimen ; weight 78 5 grs. ; size 1*0625". 
The Wu-tchu currency was introduced by the Han dynasty, and the 
Ho-tsiuen currency, by the usurper Sin Wang Mang (9-22 A.D.). Both 
currencies continued into the period of the Later Han dynasty, 25-220 
A.D., and the specimens of our collection must be ascribed to that 
period. 
