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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Asian Coins| ▸ |China||View Options:   | | | The earliest Chinese proto-coins, as early as 770 - 476 B.C., were imitations of the cowrie shells used in ceremonial exchanges. The first metal coins, also introduced in this period, were not initially round; instead, they were knife shaped or spade shaped. Round metal coins with a round hole, and then later a square hole, in the center were first introduced around 350 B.C. The beginning of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 B.C.), the first dynasty to unify China, standardized coinage for the whole Empire. At first, coinage was limited to use around the capital city district but by the beginning of the Han Dynasty, coins were widely used for paying taxes, salaries, and fines. Ancient Chinese coins are markedly different from coins produced in the west. Chinese coins were cast in molds, unlike western coins which were typically struck (hammered) or, in later times, milled. Chinese coins were usually made from bronze, brass, or iron. Precious metals like gold and silver were uncommonly used. The alloys of the coin metals varied considerably. Most Chinese coins were produced with a square hole in the middle. At the mint coins were threaded on a square rod so that the rough edges could be filed smooth on a lathe, after which they were threaded on strings for ease of handling. Official coin production was sometimes spread over many mint locations throughout the country. Aside from officially produced coins, private coining was common during many stages of Chinese history. At times private coining was tolerated, sometimes it was illegal. Some coins were produced in very large numbers. During the Western Han, an average of 220 million coins a year were produced. Some other types were of limited circulation and are extremely rare today. |
Shenzong implemented Wang Anshi's famous reforms aimed at improving life for the peasantry and unemployed. He was initially successful against the Tangut Empire but Shenzong's forces were defeated at the City of Yongle battle of 1082. As a result, the Xixia forces grew more powerful and would be a thorn on the side of the Song dynasty in the ensuing decades.CH112345. Bronze 1 cash, Gorny NS 27.a, Hartill 16.210, Schjoth 553, VF, earthen deposits, weight 3.707 g, maximum diameter 25.1 mm, die axis 0o, 1078 - 1085 A.D.; obverse Yuan Feng tong bao, seal script, clockwise, regular characters; reverse plain; $11.00 (€10.34) ON RESERVE
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhe Zong, 1086 - 1100 A.D.
"Round as the heavens, square as the earth," is a Chinese saying used to metaphorically describe the fabric of the coins. On the practical side, it was discovered very early that a square hole fit a square shaft, which enabled a stacked quantity of coins to be turned on a lathe to remove casting irregularities.CH112440. Bronze 1 cash, Gorny NS 29.a, Hartill 16.291, Schjoth 585, Fisher 990; small size variety, F, light earthen deposits, weight 3.353 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, 1094 - 1097 A.D.; obverse Shao Sheng yuan bao, seal script, clockwise; reverse plain; $10.00 (€9.40)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhe Zong, 1086 - 1100 A.D.
"Round as the heavens, square as the earth," is a Chinese saying used to metaphorically describe the fabric of the coins. On the practical side, it was discovered very early that a square hole fit a square shaft, which enabled a stacked quantity of coins to be turned on a lathe to remove casting irregularities.CH112443. Bronze 2 cash, Gorny NS 29-2.b, Hartill 16.319, Schjoth 595, Fisher 996; large coin variety, F, earthen deposits and encrustations, weight 7.436 g, maximum diameter 30.6 mm, 1094 - 1097 A.D.; obverse Shao Sheng yuan bao, running script, clockwise; reverse plain; $9.00 (€8.46)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhe Zong, 1086 - 1100 A.D.
Semi-cursive script is a partially cursive style of Chinese calligraphy. Also referred to in English both as running script and by its Mandarin Chinese name, xíngshu, it is derived from clerical script, and was for a long time after its development in the first centuries A.D. the usual style of handwriting.CH112444. Bronze 2 cash, Gorny NS 31-2.b, Hartill 16.349, Schjoth 605, Fisher 1009, F, deposits and encrustations, weight 7.523 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, 1098 - 1100 A.D.; obverse Yuan Fu tong bao, running script, clockwise; reverse plain; $9.00 (€8.46)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. |  |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. | |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. | |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. | |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. | |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Shen Zong, 1067 - 1085 A.D.
Shenzong implemented Wang Anshi's famous reforms aimed at improving life for the peasantry and unemployed. He was initially successful against the Tangut Empire but Shenzong's forces were defeated at the City of Yongle battle of 1082. As a result, the Xixia forces grew more powerful and would be a thorn on the side of the Song dynasty in the ensuing decades.CH112436. Bronze 2 cash, Gorny NS 27-2.a, Hartill 16.224, Schjoth 553, aF, light deposits, edge crack, weight 8.489 g, maximum diameter 29.4 mm, die axis 0o, 1078 - 1085 A.D.; obverse Yuan Feng tong bao, seal script, clockwise, round bao; reverse plain; $7.00 (€6.58)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Shen Zong, 1067 - 1085 A.D.
Shenzong implemented Wang Anshi's famous reforms aimed at improving life for the peasantry and unemployed. He was initially successful against the Tangut Empire but Shenzong's forces were defeated at the City of Yongle battle of 1082. As a result, the Xixia forces grew more powerful and would be a thorn on the side of the Song dynasty in the ensuing decadesCH112437. Bronze 1 cash, Gorny NS 27.b, Hartill 16.236, Schjoth 547, Fisher 963, F, weight 3.619 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 0o, 1078 - 1085 A.D.; obverse Yuan Feng tong bao, running script, clockwise; reverse plain; $6.00 (€5.64)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Ying Zong, 1063 - 1067 A.D.
In 1055 Emperor Renzong fell ill and as he had no surviving sons there was a threat to the succession. Prompted by court officials, Renzong agreed to bring two boys, sons of Imperial clansmen, into the palace. Yingzong was the son of Zhao Yunrang the most important clan official and a first cousin of Emperor who also had been raised in the Palace as a potential heir before Renzong was born. Yingzong's reign is remembered for bitter controversy within the bureaucracy over ritual and symbolic honors posthumously bestowed on his biological father.CH112429. Bronze 1 cash, Gorny NS 23.b, Hartill 16.167, Schjoth 526, Fisher 942, aF, inventory tape on rev., weight 3.290 g, maximum diameter 24.7 mm, die axis 0o, 1064 - 1067 A.D.; obverse Zhi Ping tong bao, li script; reverse plain; $5.00 (€4.70)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Tai Zong, 976 - 997 A.D.
| Known by his temple name Taizong after his death, Zhao Jiong was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. Taizong was a hardworking and diligent emperor, notable for reunifying China by conquering the Northern Han and for caring for the well-being of his people. He personally led the campaign against the North, increased agricultural production, organized encyclopedias, expanded the courts and the examination system, and further limited the military power of the jiedushi. He personally wrote the inscriptions on his coins. | |
China, Western Han Dynasty, 206 B.C. - 25 A.D.
The banliang, round with a square hole in the middle, was the first unified currency of China, introduced by the first emperor Qin Shi Huang around 210 B.C. Before that, a variety of coins were used in China, usually in the form of blades (knife money) or other implements, though round coins with square holes were used by the state of Zhou before it was extinguished by Qin in 249 B.C. Banliang coinage was part of a broader Qin standardization plan which also unified weights, measures and axle width. By the time this coin was issued, a full monetary economy had developed, with taxes, salaries and fines paid in coins. An average of 220 million coins were produced each year.CH112457. Bronze 4 zhu, Hartill 7.16 - 7.17; Mitchiner ATEC 2 5156 (perhaps other varieties in the lot), near Fine or better, as found patina and deposits, 175 - 119 B.C.; obverse Ban Liang, no rims; reverse plain, no rims; randomly selected from the same lot in as the coins in the photograph, ONE COIN; $5.00 (€4.70)
China, Xin Dynasty, Wang Mang's Interregnum, 7 - 23 A.D.
| Minted during the lifetime of Jesus! Wang Mang was a Han Dynasty official and consort kin who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded the Xin Dynasty, ruling 9-23 A.D. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow, and his rule marks the separation between the Western Han Dynasty (before Xin) and Eastern Han Dynasty (after Xin). Some historians have traditionally viewed Wang as a usurper, while others have portrayed him as a visionary and selfless social reformer. Though a learned Confucian scholar who sought to implement the harmonious society he saw in the classics, his efforts ended in chaos. In October 23 A.D., the capital Chang'an was attacked and the imperial palace ransacked. Wang Mang died in the battle. The Han dynasty was reestablished in 25 A.D. when Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu) took the throne. |  |
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Shen Zong, 1067 - 1085 A.D.
Shenzong implemented Wang Anshi's famous reforms aimed at improving life for the peasantry and unemployed. He was initially successful against the Tangut Empire but Shenzong's forces were defeated at the City of Yongle battle of 1082. As a result, the Xixia forces grew more powerful and would be a thorn on the side of the Song dynasty in the ensuing decades.CH98381. Bronze 1 cash, cf. Gorny NS 27.b, Hartill 16.235, 1078 - 1085 A.D.; obverse Yuan Feng tong bao, running script, clockwise; reverse plain; condition varies, mostly near Fine or Fine, randomly selected from the same lot as the coins in the photograph, ONE COIN; $4.00 (€3.76) Out of Stock!
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Shen Zong, 1067 - 1085 A.D.
Shenzong implemented Wang Anshi's famous reforms aimed at improving life for the peasantry and unemployed. He was initially successful against the Tangut Empire but Shenzong's forces were defeated at the City of Yongle battle of 1082. As a result, the Xixia forces grew more powerful and would be a thorn on the side of the Song dynasty in the ensuing decades.CH98380. Bronze 1 cash, cf. Gorny 27a, Hartill 16.210, 1078 - 1085 A.D.; obverse Yuan Feng tong bao, seal script, clockwise; reverse plain; condition varies, mostly near Fine or Fine, randomly selected from the same lot as the coins in the photograph, ONE COIN; $3.00 (€2.82)
China, Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhe Zong, 1086 - 1100 A.D.
Zhezong ascended the throne at age 9 under the supervision of Empress Dowager Gao. He was powerless until the Empress' death in 1093. Under Zhenzong the country prospered. But after the Khitan attacked, despite initial successes, he concluded a treaty agreeing to an inferior position and an annual tribute of 100,000 oz. of silver and over 200,000 bolts of silk. The treaty brought over a century of peace, but the admission of inferiority would plague foreign affairs and the payments slowly depleted the empire's coffers. Zhezong died in 1100 in Kaifeng and was succeeded by his younger brother. He was only 24.CH112441. Bronze 1 cash, Gorny NS 29.b, Hartill 16.308, Schjoth 586, Fisher 991, aF, light earthen deposits, weight 2.315 g, maximum diameter 23.5 mm, 1094 - 1097 A.D.; obverse Shao Sheng yuan bao, running script, clockwise, claw feet bao; reverse plain; $3.00 (€2.82)
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