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Xin Dynasty coins from turbulent currency era
By Zhao Dan |
July 11, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WANG Mang was a Han Dynasty (206 BC?AD 220) official who seized the throne from the Han emperor and founded the Xin Dynasty (AD 9-23).
However after his reign, the Han Dynasty was restored and his rule overlaps the separation between the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) and the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220).
Wang initiated four currency reforms when he was on the throne and left varieties of different coins.
Among them, a set of coins called liu quan shi bu (six round coins and 10 spade-shaped coins) is the most famous collection.
The round ones were designed based on the Han Dynasty currency named wuzhuqian, whose shape was round and with a square hole in the middle.
While the spade-shaped coins resembled those used in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC), they had a hole on the top so that they could be strung together.
The collection is the first currency set in Chinese history that can be exchanged based on value. The round coins are valued in tens and the spade-shaped ones are in denominations of hundreds.
As Wang initiated too many currency reforms in a short time, the monetary system descended into complete chaos.
As a result, the set of coins won little recognition among the public and was soon replaced by another currency system after Wang was overthrown.
Complete sets of the coins are very rare and the smallest spade-shaped coin in the set can be seen only in the Shanghai Museum.
Though Wang failed in his currency reforms, he attached much importance to the molding of coins.
Those made during his reign were elegantly designed and delicately crafted with handsome engraved characters.
The meticulous craftsmanship gave the coins invaluable artistic beauty and made the rare pieces highly appealing to collectors' eyes.
However after his reign, the Han Dynasty was restored and his rule overlaps the separation between the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) and the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220).
Wang initiated four currency reforms when he was on the throne and left varieties of different coins.
Among them, a set of coins called liu quan shi bu (six round coins and 10 spade-shaped coins) is the most famous collection.
The round ones were designed based on the Han Dynasty currency named wuzhuqian, whose shape was round and with a square hole in the middle.
While the spade-shaped coins resembled those used in the Warring States Period (476-221 BC), they had a hole on the top so that they could be strung together.
The collection is the first currency set in Chinese history that can be exchanged based on value. The round coins are valued in tens and the spade-shaped ones are in denominations of hundreds.
As Wang initiated too many currency reforms in a short time, the monetary system descended into complete chaos.
As a result, the set of coins won little recognition among the public and was soon replaced by another currency system after Wang was overthrown.
Complete sets of the coins are very rare and the smallest spade-shaped coin in the set can be seen only in the Shanghai Museum.
Though Wang failed in his currency reforms, he attached much importance to the molding of coins.
Those made during his reign were elegantly designed and delicately crafted with handsome engraved characters.
The meticulous craftsmanship gave the coins invaluable artistic beauty and made the rare pieces highly appealing to collectors' eyes.
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