ZHOU: Spring and Autumn Period, 650-400 BC, AE bell money, LOT of 3 pieces of "bell money" (zhong qian or chung), one large with intact clapper, another small size without clapper, another with four holes as made without clapper, an attractive group of these popular items, average quality examples, retail value $250, lot of 3 bells. Charles Opitz lists these with the comment that they were not currency, but are included in many numismatic collections. For many years they have been considered a form of money by some authors, but these have been found in tombs as sets of bells used for making music and sets include small bells up through large ones, each probably playing one note. Whether currency or not, they are still interesting artifacts.
