Copper cash

Cash
Replicas of various ancient to 19th century cast cash coins in various metals found in China, Korea and Japan.
Traditional Chinese	方孔錢
Simplified Chinese	方孔钱
Literal meaning	square-holed money
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin fāng kǒng qián
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	銅錢
Simplified Chinese	铜钱
Literal meaning	copper money
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin tóng qián
Second alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	銅幣
Simplified Chinese	铜币
Literal meaning	copper currency
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin tóng bì

Cash was a type of coin of China and East Asia, used from the 4th century BC until the 20th century AD. Originally cast during the Warring States period, these coins continued to be used for the entirety of Imperial China as well as under Mongol, and Manchu rule. The last Chinese cash coins were cast in the first year of the Republic of China. Generally most cash coins were made from copper or bronze alloys, with iron, lead, and zinc coins occasionally used less often throughout Chinese history. Rare silver and gold cash coins were also produced. During most of their production, cash coins were cast but, during the late Qing dynasty, machine-struck cash coins began to be made.

In the modern era, these coins are considered to be Chinese “good luck coins”; they are hung on strings and round the necks of children, or over the beds of sick people. They hold a place in various superstitions, as well as Traditional Chinese medicine, and Feng shui. Currencies based on the Chinese cash coins include the Japanese mon, Korean mun, Ryukyuan mon, and Vietnamese văn.

The English term "cash", referring to the coin, was derived from the Tamil kāsu, a South Indian monetary unit. The English word "cash", meaning "tangible currency", is an older and unrelated word, derived from the Middle French caisse.