"That's true."
After hearing what Chu Chen said, Wu Ke nodded. Then she pointed at another Three-hole spade currency and asked, "What about this one?"
The Three-hole spade currency Wu Ke pointed to was also a large spade coin. Its condition was about the same as that Songzi Three-hole spade currency. The two characters "Five Ridges" were written on the face, while the number "seventeen" was cast above the hole on the reverse. The reverse inscription read "one liang," with the characters slightly slanted. The inscription was in Great Seal Script, with highly free-flowing calligraphy. Its strokes were thin, firm, and vigorous, while the characters themselves were unusual, elegant, archaic, and dignified.
Chu Chen shook his head. "I've never seen this Three-hole spade currency before either."
Wu Ke said happily, "So that means this Three-hole spade currency is one of a kind?"
"That's hard to say," Chu Chen replied. "I don't know much about collecting coins and the like. We'll have to ask my master about this. Once we've finished sorting everything, let's go see him."
"Sure..."
After sorting through their previous gains, Chu Chen and Wu Ke took the coins and went together to see Old Liu.
Old Liu was also extremely surprised when he saw the two coins. After authenticating them, he told Chu Chen that he believed both large Three-hole spade currencies were first discoveries. However, just like that Songzi Three-hole spade currency, he had seen a Five Ridges Three-hole spade currency in a collector's hands before. It had also been a small Three-hole spade currency, though. Otherwise, he would not have called these first discoveries.
In the end, Old Liu asked Chu Chen to leave the coins with him, as he wanted to borrow them for research. Chu Chen naturally agreed at once.
After staying at