200 Cash Copper

In fact, the coins' weight is not unchanged, ranged from 9 grams to 21 grams. Early coinage is about 20.6 grams and in theory, official weight is 12.5 grams (four mace). Now, 105 varieties have been found. In them, 7 varieties are reported less than 10 pieces, with 3 of them remain further investigation. As a result, 98 varieties can be found.

In official document, coin minting ended in 1930.

Wreath patterns differ into 2: leaf-like and grain-like, which is imitated from N# 21433 .

Reverse:

Leaf-like, minted in Chengdu:

I-series:

I-series sometimes have thick flan and reeded edges.(The other 200 cash are smooth-edged. And thick flan is not related to reeded edge, and “thick” is about II/III-series. Early coinage is about 20.6 grams with both.)  Average weight is about 15 grams. Sometimes upper leave are lost in left or both side, or have a line in both side. 

Sometimes, the die is polished, so no stem. Sometimes a dot in center 0.

1-1 is the original pattern, The leaves are very three-dimensional. The three layers of leaves are of different heights, with the middle being higher and the sides lower.

1-2 are carved as a whole with two lines reaching the flan base, and there is no drop among the three parts.

1-3 The lines on the leaves 1-3 are very shallow, with a certain width and curvature.

II-series:

II-series are all relatively thin, average weighting 13.6 grams, and the flower stalks are very long. Sometimes a dot in center 0.

2-1 is the original pattern.

2-2 “2”'s head is round.

2-3 leaves are fat.

2-4's pattern is rough, flan base deep, with a certain width and curvature.

III-series are concerned as transition period, with some patterns have both spacer rim (Large and small intervals appear) and railway rim. Mint always bad, but coins are heavy to about 17 grams.

3-1 The leaves are patterns in the shape of flower buds enclosing the oval center. 2 is like a goose. Note 0 have short version.

3-2 Each leaf has slender protrusions.

4-1 Like 3-1, but there are circular protrusions above and below 0. If die wear is not taken into account, this protrusion is similar to M.

4-2 The area surrounded by the middle of the leaf almost becomes a line. This pattern has a railway rim.

5-1 The leaves are very flat, like lines on a platform. Sometimes a dot in 0. Note that C- L5, C is railway rim.

IIII-series are of late period. They are heavy to about 18–22 grams but mixed copper with tin, lead or other metals. The flan base may have threads or protrusions. Sometimes Great Wall like rim is error on pattern and flan base. Railway rim. No upper areas leafed:

6-1 is only spacer rim in the series. 0 is square(others are octagon), but leaves are like other IIII.

6-2 The lines are relatively narrow, the outline is rather sharp, and the middle part is connected to the flower stem.

6-3 The general craftsmanship is the best.  “200” can be high or low. The middle part is not connected to the flower stem, and the lines are clear.

6-4 The flan base often protrudes. The lines are shallow and floating like 5-1. The railway rim is sparse, and the pattern is often blurry.

Time sequence is I-II-III-IIII or 1-2-3/4-5/6.

6-5 rim is narrow, seldom reverse "C" in 0 or small circle in 0 on the reverse.

Grain-like, minted in Chongqing:

1 average weight is about 11 grams, sometimes have reeded edge. 2 average weight is about 12.7 grams. We can't know which is earlier or later.

1-1, 1-2 is really Chongqing mint grain, have both brass and copper. The middle is full and protruding, while the sides are narrow.

2-1 The grains are short and small, with narrow and curved lines, resembling cotton candy. Brass or mixed copper. Sometimes rim is like spacer (Great Wall like rim).

2-2 Rim is inconspicuous. Seen as the last pattern. Brass or mixed copper. 

3-1 No lines engraved, resembling cotton candy. Brass or mixed copper.

Obverse:

Leaf-like, minted in Chengdu:

The difference are the center flower line and 民MIN writing.

A The original pattern. Sometimes has patterns:

B The center flower is like darts.

C The center flower is wide, sometimes MIN is like B.

D The center flower is asymmetry.

E The center flower is round or like D, but MIN is different.

A B spacer rim, D E railway rim, C both.

Grain-like, minted in Chongqing:

F spacer rim, MIN is smaller than A.

G railway rim, MIN is odd and taller. G3 is common version, G is always like G3 except G4.

G4 have a separate center line.

Reverse-Obverse mixing table is following listed(copper(C), brass(B), mixing copper(M), this table only list C and M):

Note that there's a pattern leaves are upsides down. But remain further research(may N# 477977 ).