钱币断代，铸法比文字更“硬”。因为文字可以仿，铸法工艺很难完全复刻。这篇按工艺演变讲清三种铸法，看懂铸法就能先缩小范围。
一、三种铸法的时间轴
从先秦到清末，中国钱币主要经历三种铸法。铸法变了，钱币的表面特征也跟着变。
范铸法
用泥范或石范，一范铸一币或数币。铸出的钱币表面常有范线、流铜、气孔，文字较浅。
- 有范线、流铜
- 表面有气孔
- 文字较浅
- 边缘不规则
- 先秦刀布币
- 秦半两、汉五铢
- 隋五铢
翻砂法
用母钱翻砂制范，一范可铸多枚。铸出的钱币表面较平整，文字较深，边缘较规整。
- 表面较平整
- 文字较深
- 边缘规整
- 有砂眼、砂痕
- 唐开元通宝
- 宋钱、明钱
- 清钱（除机制币）
机制法
用机器冲压，钱币表面极其平整，文字、图案立体感强，边齿规整，没有砂眼。
- 表面平整
- 文字、图案立体
- 边齿规整
- 无砂眼
- 光绪元宝
- 大清银币
- 民国银元
二、三种铸法对比表
| 铸法 | 时代 | 表面特征 | 代表 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 范铸 | 先秦—隋 | 范线、流铜、气孔 | 刀布币、五铢 |
| 翻砂 | 唐—清 | 平整、文字深、砂眼 | 开元通宝、清钱 |
| 机制 | 清末—民国 | 平整、立体、边齿规整 | 光绪元宝、银元 |
三、上手怎么看？
- 看表面：有范线、流铜 = 范铸；有砂眼 = 翻砂；平整无砂 = 机制
- 看文字：文字浅 = 范铸；文字深 = 翻砂；文字立体 = 机制
- 看边缘：不规则 = 范铸；较规整 = 翻砂；边齿规整 = 机制
- 看背面：是否有对应时代的铸法特征
四、常见误区
- 误区一：铸法对就一定是真——铸法可以仿
- 误区二：范铸币一定比翻砂币老——范铸也有后世仿铸
- 误区三：机制币都是清末——也有民国机制币
- 误区四：只看铸法就能断代——要结合锈色、包浆、文字
下一步可以做什么？
- 去本地钱币店上手不同铸法的钱币，建立触感记忆
- 用放大镜对比范铸、翻砂、机制三种表面特征
- 把每次看到的不同铸法样本拍下来，做自己的对比库
For dating coins, casting method is "harder" than inscription — inscriptions can be copied, but casting techniques are hard to fully replicate. Three methods, three eras.
1. Timeline of three methods
From pre-Qin to late Qing, Chinese coins went through three main casting methods. Change the method, change the surface features.
Mould casting
Clay or stone moulds, one mould per coin or a few. Surfaces show mould lines, metal overflow, gas holes. Inscriptions are shallow.
- Mould lines, overflow
- Gas holes
- Shallow inscriptions
- Irregular edges
- Pre-Qin knife and spade coins
- Qin banliang, Han wuzhu
- Sui wuzhu
Sand casting
Mother coins pressed into sand for multiple casts. Surfaces are flatter, inscriptions deeper, edges more regular.
- Flatter surfaces
- Deeper inscriptions
- Regular edges
- Sand holes and marks
- Tang Kaiyuan tongbao
- Song, Ming coins
- Qing coins (except machine-struck)
Machine striking
Machine-pressed. Surfaces are extremely flat, inscriptions and designs are 3D, reeding is regular, no sand holes.
- Flat surfaces
- 3D inscriptions and designs
- Regular reeding
- No sand holes
- Guangxu yuanbao
- Great Qing silver coins
- Republic silver dollars
2. Comparison
| Method | Period | Surface | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mould | Pre-Qin—Sui | Mould lines, overflow, gas holes | Knife/spade, wuzhu |
| Sand | Tang—Qing | Flat, deep inscription, sand holes | Kaiyuan, Qing coins |
| Machine | Late Qing—Republic | Flat, 3D, regular reeding | Guangxu yuanbao, silver dollars |
3. How to look
- Surface: mould lines or overflow = mould; sand holes = sand; flat no sand = machine
- Inscription: shallow = mould; deep = sand; 3D = machine
- Edges: irregular = mould; regular = sand; reeded = machine
- Reverse: check for matching casting features
4. Common misconceptions
- Correct method = real — casting can be faked
- Mould coins are older — later copies exist
- Machine = late Qing — Republic machine coins exist too
- Method alone dates it — combine with rust, patina, inscription