Ancient Chinese metal coins were presumably made by casting, since molds were sometimes excavated in ruins. In order to study the segregation of elements in coinage which is probably caused during the casting process, sixteen pieces were taken for analysis from different parts of each coin. Ten elements (copper, lead, tin, arsenic, iron, antimony, zinc, cobalt, nickel, and manganese) were determined by means of the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Appreciable segregation of major elements was observed in the ancient bronze coins: copper was accompanied by tin but not by lead. By contrast, segregation of elements was much less pronounced in the brass coins. Based on the correlation diagram of iron-tin contents, sample pieces taken from one bronze coin could be distinguished from those of other coins. With the iron-nickel correlation diagram each brass coin could be distinguished from another.