Coins, China, Empire. Tea coin. 1800–1900s. Made in the northern Chinese tea districts Yanglow Tung and Hankow for trade with Mongolia and Tibet. The tea coins consist of powdered tea, which is pressed into lead molds under great pressure. The relatively large 'coin', 185 x 240 mm, 1.150 g, is divided into 16 squares to be separated and used as arbitration coins. A horse cost 80 tea coins! Mitch. 4144. Very interesting item! VF.