Not original. I believe this to be a tourist souvenir

The Chinese characters on the object are (Gungx b nin), which translates to "Guangxu Year 8". [1] Translation Breakdown (Guangxu): The era name for the tenth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, whose reign lasted from 1875 to 1908.

This is a sycee (or yuanbao), a traditional boat-shaped metal ingot used as currency in imperial China. Symbol Identification The characters on top of this sycee appear to be (Qinlng), which refers to the era name of the sixth emperor of the Qing dynasty. These characters are frequently stamped onto sycees, both historical and commemorative, to indicate the time of manufacture or to invoke the prosperity of that period.

Cultural Significance Wealth and Prosperity: Today, sycees are powerful symbols of wealth luck and financial success. They are often used as Feng Shui charms to attract prosperity into a home.

Lunar New Year: These ingots are a common decoration during the Chinese New Year, representing a wish for a fortunate year ahead.

Currency History: Historically, their value was determined by their weight in taels rather than a fixed face value. Individual silversmiths cast them for local exchange, leading to a wide variety of shapes and extra details. Markings: The top surface feThe central symbol on this silver ingot is the Chinese character (L), which represents prosperity, blessing, and official salary.

Symbolic Meaning Prosperity and Career: Historically, L referred specifically to the salary of a government official. It is part of the popular "Three Stars" (Fu Lu Shou) representing fortune, prosperity, and longevity. Wealth Attraction: As a boat-shaped ingot (known as a sycee or yuanbao), the object itself is a traditional symbol of material wealth and financial luck.atures a central stamp or engraving, which historically indicated the mint, date, weight, or the craftsman who created it.

Material and Patina: The dark, grayish finish is characteristic of an oxidized patina often found on antique silver.