Text, String of 1000 Chinese coins, China 1644-1911

String of 1000 Chinese coins China, 1644-1911 Chinese coins were used singly and in units known as 'strings' (guan). Theoretically, one string contained 1000 coins, but in practice many held fewer. This string has been reconstructed using 1000 coins from the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and weighs 3.8 kg. Most strings of cash would also include coins from earlier dynasties. String of 1000 coins, constructed for display purposes in 1996, bequeathed by Steve Cribb.