"The knife coin in last week's E-Sylum, that's not from the Ming Dynasty, it's Eastern Zhou (Warring States Period), cast by the State of Yan. These types of knives all have the character ming 明 on them, hence their name "ming knives." I'm surprised a museum would make such a basic error in attribution. See more examples of these on Zeno.

"I've never heard of that museum doing authentication. I know the British Museum does authentication. That card reminds me of a Japan Numismatic Dealers Association (JNDA) certificate or the old ANACS photo certificates."

"The Chinese coin shown in the Bank of Canada certification service holder, I have not heard of, but maybe I don't get out much. The Ming Knife money displayed brought a chuckle in that the manufacture of an authentic Ming Knife would have been during the Zhou dynasty and were made in this style ca. 400-220 B.C. While the knife may be authentic, the attribution service is questionable."

Thanks, everyone. -Editor