Szechuan-Shenzi 500 Cash

This is my benchmark coin for this issue! Pedigree is the Daniel Ching Sale (06/91) Lot # 905. While minor varieties of this issue are difficult to attribute based upon the photos & descriptions in KM this coin conforms to Y# 512.1. Large Stars flanking date on the reverse, hammer handle is across lower leg of star on the obverse. D. Ching described it as: "Nice XF, traces of luster, exceptional grade for type." With this coin I'm able to compare my other examples for authenticity, etc.
Please compare this with the other SSS 500 Cash examples. I have 14 examples of these and probably 10 of them are Y512.1 - and other examples that conform to Y 512 & Y512.2 with another ambiguously leaning to Y 512. So, with that anecdotal evidence one might draw some idea of relative scarcity that does not conform to KM (Krause-Mishler SCWC).

I've wanted to reconcile the various cataloging and attribution criteria for the 500 Cash (and the entire Soviet series) for decades. However, well developed translated information and photos have been difficult to assemble. Things got much better with the publication of new Chinese references and the advent of useful computer translations. With these now, I'll attempt make a little sense out of the confusion, although total satisfaction will still illude the Western numismatists and collectors. Eventually I'll post a monograph here with the appropriate cash series, as well as a consolidated document for the entire Soviet series. The three sources I have access to are KM, Duan, and Zhou & Li. The last two feature very good photos that I hope prove adequate. However, the attribution criteria are different among all three references. I'm not qualified to establish a synthesis of all these reference sources so I'll present them all in the final discussion.

Here are a number of RARE articles on Communist Chinese Soviet coins & notes from the Moneta Library:
VIEW & DOWNLOAD:
Soviet Chinese Copper Coins ("Little Brown Book") - Hua Guangpu
Soviet Chinese Coppers - Hua Guangpu
Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
Chinese Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan
Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn (1937!)
Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn
Chinese Communist Armies Silver Coins - Kann
Chinese Communist Armies - Kann

The premier articles on Early Chinese Soviet issues are the invaluable documents below. It covers the history, coins and notes from 1927-1935 and includes photos and a map: (with color photos; in 3 parts);
The Money of Communist China - Sandrock (3 part series)
Part I: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part I
Part II: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part II
Part III: The Money of Communist China 1927-1949 - Part III

The Comprehensive Catalog of Chinese Copper Coins ("SOVIET" extract; color illus.) - Duan
Chinese Soviet Copper Coins - Duan