Mu Ch'ien Pubblico Deposited
"Mother coin," the Chinese word for the coins made from the handcut model, and which are sent to the various mints to make the Yang Ch'ien or pattern coins which are in turn used to make the regular cast coins for circulation. For the Japanese equivalents see Haha Sen and Tane Sen.
- Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)