What is gold Sycee?

What is gold Sycee?

‘valuable treasure’) was a type of gold and silver ingot currency used in imperial China from its founding under the Qin dynasty until the fall of the Qing in the 20th century. In present-day China, gold sycees remain a symbol of wealth and prosperity and are commonly depicted during the Chinese New Year festivities.

What is the function of Sycee?

A sycee was a type of silver or gold ingot currency used in China until the 20th century. The name derives from the Cantonese words meaning “fine silk”. In North China, the word yuanbao, was used for similar ingots.

What is the characteristic of Sycee?

Sycee were made by individual silversmiths for local exchange; consequently, the shape and amount of extra detail on each ingot were highly variable. Square and oval shapes were common, but “boat”, flower, tortoise and others are known. Sycee can also refer to gold ingots minted in similar shapes.

Why are Chinese gold ingots shaped?

Often referred to as ‘sycees’, the shape of gold ingots such as the present lot were based on the shape of shoes worn by women in ancient China. This shoe form was considered to be auspicious and was associated with wealth, and therefore it is appropriate that these ingots should be cast in this form.

What is a Chinese gold ingot?

A yuanbao is a small metal ingot that was used in ancient China as money. Being made out of silver or gold, the value was determined by weight in taels, which is a weight measurement, part of the Chinese system of weights and currency (see also: baht). Yuanbaos were made by individual silversmiths for local exchange.

What is a Sycee silver?

Definition of sycee : silver money made in the form of ingots and formerly used in China —often used before another noun sycee silver.

How big is an ingot of gold?

How Big Is Gold Brick?

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