The Alaska daily empire., 1923-04-10
CHINESE COIN
 OF 1,232 YEARS
 AGO AT MUSEUM
Identified as Belonging to Great Chow Dynasty by
 Council at San Francisco

The Chinese coin found by MT ulanky at knik River and presented to the Alaska Historical Museum by Ar. '. ,G. croclcar of Anchorage is idelt'liad as belonging to the Great Chow Dynasty, 1232 years ago, ac- cegdifg tc Kohling Yin, Chinese Con sul General as San Franciseo A copy Of photograph of the coin was son. 10 the Consul 10 be deelphered by him ty Rev. Father A. P. kashe. yaroff, Curator of the Museum.
 When Father KasheYaroff obtained the ancient Chinese coin from MT Crockor he began an investigation and research about the meaning and particularly tho age to which this coin belonged. Copies of the photo graph of the coin were sent to the Smithsonian Institution, to Lieutenant EmmDni, ta r. Riggs. former Cover nor Of Alaska. and the Chinese Con snlafe Of San Francisco with requests to have the lettering and picture de- ciphered The answer came from the Smithsonian Institution first II was evident from the promptaess of the answer that no care was taken to go + a the reaeaich The answer was as follows:
 Furnished by Dr Walter Hough, Head Curator of Anthropology."
 These temple coins are not un- common in Southeastern Alaska and British Columbia A jar containing a number of coins intended as charms against lightning was found 200 miles up the Stikine River in British Co lumeia. Lieut.. r. Wix Boles. '. s. N. describes a coin of this eharac- ter llscd aB the eye of d wooden mask taken from | grave near the Chilkat village at the mouth Of the Chilkat River, Alaska. Old skin ar nor III the museum is set with Chi. neae cash much moro recent than the coin pictured by Mr. Kasheyaroff.
 'eThe finding of the coin and lamp 1 together 1 suggest, does not fix re. ladionships. The lamp was identified as Alaskan Peninsula on account 0! Tits characteristic form. Since two have been found we can feel some what safe in making a class Of carved lamps of tho Alaska Peninsula. would not feel safe in identifying the | figure as Buddha or Annbis. 1 would prefer a nearer origin"
 Father Kashcvaroff says that tht l Alaska Historical Museum has a mum lber of Chinese coins which were used as charms on the Shamans clothing. Mr Flory had presented a number of these coins, found in ar old grave at Prince of Wales Island They arc the regular size used by | Chinese as money. These coins were sent to San Francisco and wer' Identified as coins between 200 an' 300 years old.
 The Chinese Consul of San Fran cisco identifies the characters on thu large coin. found by MT. Ulanky a Knik River as belonging to the Grea Chow Dynasty. 1.232 years ago.
 The letter from the Consul Gen oral is as follows:
 San Francisco, March S1. 1923. Territory of Alaska and Alaska His
 torical Association:
 Sir: As soon as l received you letter and tho photograph l aske' Mr. C. K. Leong. editor in chief Q the Chinese World, for assistance.
 am glad that he made the deeiphe and explained it below l regret | say that I cannot trace the origi of the stone lamp. Please send m copy of this phoro for Mr. Leong.
 KOHAING YIH,
 Chinese Consul Genera
 Tho meaning of the lettering on tn |. coin: W
 : "The . Chineso ancient character
 Hook like 4) i1 one side of tn