金马风声挂牌花钱，背满文，清朝（公元1644–1911），青铜质，67.9x2.2mm，重21.2g。挂牌为灵芝形，饰有如意纹。满文为 “金马风声”音译。品相极美。满文花钱甚为少见，一钱之上，满汉文互译，则更罕见。另：该钱牌于上世纪八十年代由布氏採自中国渖阳，但实际功能不明。从铭文来看，似与军旅或骑兵有关。就形状而言，此物与元明时期的令牌有相通之处。品相方面，此牌之前仅二、三见，包括日本藏家平尾正平所藏，均有较重使用痕迹和毁损。从以上考虑，此牌疑为清早实用令牌。布氏此枚为迄今品相最佳者，初次发表于布氏“是钱非钱：花钱的文化功能及意义”一文，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: Qing Dynasty (1644–1911 CE), hanging plaque in the shape of lingzhi or reishi mushroom, obverse inscribed four characters in regular script reading Jin ma feng sheng (金馬風聲), reverse inscribed four Manchurian transliterations of the same Chinese characters, 67.9x2.3mm, 21.2g, in excellent condition and scarce. Note: Manchurian characters are rare on plaque-shaped charms. It is even rarer to find mutual translations between Chinese and Manchurian on the same plaque. This plaque was collected by Dr Burger in the north-eastern city of Shenyang, China, the family seat of the Qing emperors. Its function remains unknown. Judging by the inscriptions, it may have to do with the military and cavalry in particular. Two or three other specimens have been seen so far, all showing strong signs of wear and damage, including the one in the collection of Hirao Sanpei. Judging from the above, this plaque is most likely to have been used as a token of identity or authority. The current specimen is the best in quality and condition. It is the same original piece which is used in Dr Burger’s article on Chinese charms entitled Coins Which are Not Money: Cultural Functions and Symbolism in Money in Asia (1200–1900): Small Currencies in Social and Political Contexts edited by Jane Kate Leonard and Ulrich Theobald, Brill 2022.
