神怪方穿镂空花钱，辽金（公元9161234）时期，58.3x3.8mm，重62.2g。一神祗趺坐于穿上，手托腮作思考状；穿左右二人似为护卫，均手持有物；穿下一鞍马，作俯首食草状；外缘面背均刻有缠枝纹。该钱艺术水准十足，构图层次清晰，人物表情栩栩如生。品相极佳，包浆厚实坚润，且红斑绿锈，坑色美观悦目。铸工亦十分精美，钱体厚重，方穿规整，内廓微显水红铜色，穿内亦见硃砂斑锈，可知其年代久远，上可看辽宋，甚至更早。此式镂空目前仅数见，且品相皆逊于此处之布氏旧藏，故疑为最初精铸版，尤其珍罕难得。另一版带挂环者，见于西泠印社2020年秋季拍卖会中国历代钱币专场，拍品第4685号。
注：此钱为宗教题材，穿上之神祇一说为佛祖释迦摩尼，穿下白马乃其尚为俗世王子时期之坐骑。另：该钱为布氏“是钱非钱：花钱的文化功能及意义”一文所用原物。该文收录于《1200-1900的亚洲钱币：社会与政治框架中的货币》一书，J.K Leonard与U. Theobald编辑，2022年布瑞尔出版社出版。
China: Liao–Jin Dynasty (916–1234 CE), openwork charm with square central hole, a human figure sitting above the central hole flanked by two further human figures on both sides and a horse underneath, 58.3x3.8mm, 45.5g. An important example from the openwork genre, the outer rim decorated with elaborate foliage patterns, all in excellent condition, extremely rare. The human figure sitting above the central hole is interpreted to be Prince Siddhartha, who later became Gautama Buddha. The horse underneath the central hole, according to the same interpretation, is named Kanthaka, a favourite white horse of eighteen cubits in length, who served as a royal servant of Prince Siddhartha. Only several examples have been seen so far but they are all second to the current piece in terms of quality and condition. One other example, with hanging loop, was auctioned at the Autumn Sale of Xiling Yinshe in 2020, Lot 4685.
