This episode of the television program "Death Valley Days" shows an old Chinese provincial coin. "Death Valley Days" was a half-hour television series which was produced for local television stations and ran from 1952 to 1970. All of the episodes had a host who introduced the story. The host for the first 13 years was the "Old Ranger" (actor Stanley Andrews) who appeared as an old west lawman. This episode "Phantom Procession" was first broadcast on April 12, 1963. The story is a tale of ghosts and the supernatural and is set in 1883 in an area along the United States - Mexico border.

The program's logo of a Borax twenty-mule team was present on all episodes. The Old Ranger appears in front of a desert scene and introduces the program:

He appears to be wearing a belt buckle with a silver dollar on it.

In 1883, lone American rider Corbin is thrown from his horse, is found by a Mexican brother and sister, Miguel and Maria, and taken to their small house and tells his story to the pair.

He tells the pair that he was headed for an area named Ajos and Miguel tell him that he was at the Campo Santo or The Valley of the Dead and warns him that he should not cross the area alone at night.

Maria tells him that it is a foolish local superstition.

Miguel adds:

Corbin expresses doubts, "It is nonsense. I do not believe it." Miguel's American friend Miller arrives and the two men head for a local bar.

Maria tells Corbin that Miller is a American Army deserter and local low-life and that he has been filling Miguel with "get-rich quick" schemes. Miller returns with Miguel drunk and takes him inside. He then returns and tries to assault Maria but is stopped by Corbin.

Corbin, Maria, and Miguel head for town to talk to the Padre (Roman Catholic priest).

Corbin announces that he plans to return to Ajos and the Padre warns him not to.

Corbin says that he is going anyway for the usual reason (gold?). However, he visits Ajos during the daytime, and finds a coin.

The coin is a Chinese coin with a square hole.

This coin is a Chinese Empire "cash" coin from Kwangtung Province, also known as Canton, now as Guangdong.

An example of a China Kwangtung Province cash coin

The coins were struck at the city of Canton without dates but between 1890 and 1908. They are usually made of bronze or brass, around 24 mm in diameter and weigh around 2.70 grams. There are many varieties including ones with round holes and square holes. They have also been reproduced more recently for sale to tourists and collectors.

Corbin returns from Ajos to the town and sees the pair and the Padre. A man drives a cart into town with a human body that he has found. The body is identified as and buried as an "Unknown Chinaman, died July 17, 1883 at the Campo Santo." The Padre and Corbin discuss the stories and Miller interrupts to exclaim:

Corbin asks Miller if he's seen the ghosts then why is he still alive and Miller replies "lucky." Corbin mentions that the dead man was wearing "Chinese slippers" and shows the coin to the Padre.

Both agree that it is Chinese and Corbin suggests that there is a rational explanation for the events and that they and some townspeople visit the Campo Santo at night. At the site, they watch and see the procession.

Corbin fires a rifle into the air.

Two of the hooded men begin firing guns back.

The two "ghosts" are shot, ending the gunfight.

The two gunfighter "ghosts" are unmasked and are found to be Miller, dead, and Miguel, dying. The others are found to be Chinese men. Corbin explains that some Chinese men pay large sums to be smuggled in to the United States, and Miguel confesses that he and Miller were managing the smuggling ring. Corbin sees Maria again and they ride away.

Stanley Andrews as the Old Ranger
Tony Young as Corbin
Miriam Colon as Maria
Eugene Iglesias as Miguel
Harry Lauter as Miller
Edward Colmans as Padre
Director: Jesse Hibbs
Writers: Barry Shipman