CURRENT BID
0.00CAD+ applicable fees & taxes.
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Live Online Auction Starts In
2026 Apr 30 @ 17:30 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Buyer’s Premiums will be added on all items as per the Terms & Conditions of the sale. Invoices will be emailed out after all sessions of the Toronto Coin Expo Spring Sale have concluded.
Bridge Money (or ching) refers to ancient bronze, spade-like currency from China's Zhou Dynasty (approx. 1046–255 BC), specifically used during the Warring States period (5th–3rd century BC). These items resemble small bridges, musical chimes (jade ch'in), or tools, and were early transitional mediums of exchange. "Boat money" in the 17th century refers primarily to Southeast Asian, particularly Malaysian/Indonesian, cast tin and lead, canoe-shaped currency used in trade from the 1400s–1700s. Tiger Tongue money, or Lat money, is a 19th-century silver alloy, bar-shaped currency from Laos and the former Kingdom of Lan Xang (14th–19th century). These ingots, often featuring a distinct "double sucker" or dotted texture and sometimes snake/serpent stamps, were used for trade and high-value. Aztec hoe money, or tajaderos, were thin, T-shaped copper blades used as a standardized currency in Mesoamerica (c. 800–1500 CE). Valued for their high copper content. "Key money" in Chinese history refers to knife money, an ancient form of bronze currency used primarily during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (circa 600–200 BCE). These bronze implements, shaped like knives with a ring on the end, were used for commerce and are highly valued today as historical artifacts. Knife money is the name of large, cast, bronze, knife-shaped commodity money produced by various governments and kingdoms in what is now China, approximately 2,500 years ago. Knife money circulated in China between 600 and 200 B.C. during the Zhou dynasty. Katanga Cross from Democratic Republic of Congo, heavily used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Weighing roughly 1-2 pounds, these cast copper items symbolized wealth, were used for bridewealth, and could purchase goods like flour or livestock. Finally, Chinese Shirt Money, should be verified for authenticity by purchaser.
Additional Information submitted April 13th:
Bridge money is classified as "pseudo-money", which means we're currently unsure whether it was used for exchange or if they were simply funerary objects, source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_dynasty_coinage#Other_coinages
The knife money here (second image) is a ming knife, minted by the state of yan (400-220BC) (https://en.numista.com/61870)
"Key Money" is referring to a specific type of coin minted by wang mang in the xin dynasty (9-23AD, not in the warring states period). They are roughly based on Warring States knives but key money itself is from the Xin Dynasty. Here is an example: https://en.numista.com/50155
The last item is more commonly known as "spade money", shirt money is a bit of a dated name. Most people will know what spade money is. This example is specifically a "pointed foot spade". Here is a short article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spade_money#Flat-handled_spade_money
Auction Location:
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street (1 street north of Bloor), Toronto, Ontario, M4W 2G8, Canada
Previewing Details:
Location:
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge Street (1 street north of Bloor)
Toronto, ON
M4W 2G8
Lot viewing available online, or in-person from 10:00am-4:30pm
HST of 13% will be applied to any purchaser from ON; HST of 14% will be applied to any purchaser from PE; HST of 15% will be applied to any purchaser from NS, NB, NL, PE; All other provinces in Canada 5% will be applied. No tax is charged on out of Country purchases.
Taxes:
| Tax | Rate | Desc. |
| HST |
13% |
HST |
| GST |
5% |
GST |
| HST |
14% |
HST |
| HST |
15% |
HST |
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
Lot pick-up/Shipping Details: Lots will be available for pickup at the Toronto Coin Expo on Friday & Saturday. All lots not picked up will be shipped at the bidders expense. We charge actual shipping costs (minimum $15) plus $5 per package for packing and processing the order. Insurance is $5 per thousand.
Payment Details:
Payment Details: Cheques must clear before shipping; money orders and certified cheques will be verified and shipped within 48 hours of receipt. eTransfer, or Direct deposit into our TD Canada Trust account will result in immediate shipping. Credit Card and Paypal payments are accepted at a 4% premium to cover fees.
Accepted Payment Methods:
- VISA
- Master Card
- Money Order/Bank Draft
- Check/Cheque
- COD (cash on delivery)
- PayPal
- See Payment Details
- Wire Transfer
- Multiple Credit Cards
Terms and Conditions at Geoffrey Bell Auctions
Credit and Deposits: All bidders must be approved. Those who do not have an established relationship with Geoffrey Bell Auctions must provide an approved reference or a credit guarantee prior to the sale.
Buyer’s Premiums: A buyer’s premium of 20% will be added to the hammer price. Appropriate GST or HST will be added for lots delivered in Canada. No taxes will be added if shipped out of the country. US Funds accepted at 2% under the posted rate on xe.com on the day of the auction. All accounts not paid within 30 days will result in an interest charge of 2% per month calculated from May 1st, 2026.
Auction Conduct: All our starting bids will be opened at approximately 10% above the second highest mail or computer bid. If there are no mail bids, auctioneer will start the bids at the reserve price, or half of the low estimate, or where possible, call for an opening bid. Advances are at the discretion of the auctioneer. In the event there are identical bids, earliest bid and floor bids will take priority. We reserve the right to withdraw any lot prior to the sale. Lots are sold to the highest bidder at an average rate of 150 lots per hour.
Bidding Procedures: Bids may be made in advance of the auction, by phone, person, fax 506-634-1026, email info@gbellauctions.com or mail. Live telephone bids are accepted through an approved agent provided by Geoffrey Bell Auctions at 506-333-7778. ALL Mail, fax and email bids must arrive to our office no later than May 1st, 2026 at 12 noon EDT. The auction will be conducted on iCollector.com and all mail bids will be entered online. Geoffrey Bell Auctions reserves the right to refuse bids deemed not in good faith. We are not responsible for bidder errors so please check your bids carefully. Bidding increments are at the discretion of the auctioneer, the scale below must be followed, any uneven bids may not be accepted:
0 – 250 10
250 – 1,000 25
1,000 – 2,000 50
2,000 – 5,000 100
5,000 – 10,000 250
10,000 –20,000 500
20,000+ 1000
Grading Standards and Description: The Cataloguers have taken every reasonable measure to ensure that all the lots are as described by Geoffrey Bell Auctions. Many of the lots are third party graded by PCGS, BCS, PMG, ICCS, NGC, CCCS - We feel these are the most recognized grading companies in the industry.
Return Policies: Returns will be accepted by absentee bidders for lots that have been misattributed or incorrectly catalogued. We guarantee that all items are genuine and we will refund anything that has been misrepresented by the cataloguers. Certified grading concerns are to be dealt with through the certified grading company, not Geoffrey Bell Auctions. No returns will be accepted on graded material. All floor sales are final, including those who choose to use our agent. Absolutely no returns will be accepted after 45 days as consignors are then paid in full.
Lot pick-up/Shipping Details: Lots will be available for pickup at the Toronto Coin Expo on Friday & Saturday. All lots not picked up will be shipped at the bidders expense. We charge actual shipping costs (minimum $15) plus $5 per package for packing and processing the order. Insurance is $5 per thousand.
Payment Details: Cheques must clear before shipping; money orders and certified cheques will be verified and shipped within 48 hours of receipt. eTransfer, or Direct deposit into our TD Canada Trust account will result in immediate shipping. Credit Card and Paypal payments are accepted at a 4% premium to cover fees.
Catalogue Values: All values are listed in Canadian Funds.
Listing of Abbreviations and References Used: available at www.gbellauctions.com