Western Han and the Wu Zhu coins Ancient Chinese coinage

obverse , reverse of shang lin san guan wu zhu coin.

by time, full monetary economy had developed. taxes, salaries, , fines paid in coins. average of 220 million coins year produced. according history of han, western han wealthy period:

granaries in cities , countryside full , government treasuries running on wealth. in capital strings of cash had been stacked hundreds of millions until cords bound them had rotted away , no longer counted.

on average, millet cost 75 cash , polished rice 140 cash hectolitre, horse 4,400–4,500 cash. labourer hired 150 cash month; merchant earn 2,000 cash month. apart ban liang coins described previously, there 2 other coins of western han inscription denoted weight:

the san zhu (chinese: 三銖; pinyin: sān zhū; literally: 3 zhu – 1.95 grams ) coin issued either between 140–136 bc, or between 119–118 bc. records ambiguous, later date preferred.
the wu zhu (chinese: 五銖; pinyin: wǔ zhū; literally: 5 zhu – 3.25 grams ) first issued in 118 bc, inscription used on coins of many regimes on next 700 years. wu zhus can dated dated moulds have been discovered, or find spots, majority cannot. of western han dynasty have square top right hand component of zhu; on later coins, rounded. few of varieties have been described numismatists included here.
jun guo wu zhu (chinese: 郡國五銖; pinyin: jùn guó wǔ zhū) (118–115 bc) large , heavy coin, edges not filed. has rimless reverse. taken earliest wu zhu. according history of han, in 118 bc commanderies (jun) , principalities (guo) ordered cast 5 zhu coins circular rim impossible clip them glean bit of copper.
chi ze wu zhu (chinese: 赤仄五銖; pinyin: chì zè wǔ zhū) (115–113 bc) lighter coin above, filed edges. han records state in 115 bc mints in capital requested cast chi ze coins, 1 being worth 5 local coins. these circulate. chi ze means red (or shining) edge, referring red copper showing when edges filed smooth. examples of coin found tomb of liu sheng, prince of zhongshan, died in 113 bc.
shang lin san guan wu zhu (chinese: 上林三官五銖; pinyin: shàng lín sān guān wǔ zhū) (from 113 bc) refers 3 offices of shang lin park office coinage, office sorting copper, , office of price equalisation. minting confined central authorities. these coins have raised rim on top of hole on obverse. quality high forgery became unprofitable except true artisans, great villains, or thieves. earlier coins melted down , copper taken shang lin.
wu zhu coins (ad 25). after end of wang mang regime (see below), coinage system remained in disarray. cloth, silk , grain used money along coins. however, cash normal measure of wealth , used in large quantities. when yang ping (92–195) in economic difficulties, offered gift of 1 million cash. wu zhu coins continued issued, along other coins, until end of sixth century. coins can attributed specific reigns or events; many can not.
the iron wu zhu, resembling w. han coin, attributed gongsun shu, rebelled in sichuan in ad 25, , issued iron coins, 2 being equal 1 jian wu wu zhu(chinese: 建武五銖; pinyin: jiàn wǔ wǔ zhū). head of zhu component rounded. typical of eastern han wu zhus.


in ad 30, ditty sung youths of sichuan: yellow bull! white belly! let wu zhu coins return . ridiculed tokens of wang mang , iron coins of gongsun shu, withdrawn eastern han emperor guangwu in 16th year of jian wu (ad 40). emperor advised foundation of wealth of country depends on political economy, found in old wu zhu coinage, , reissued wu zhu coins.


the si chu wu zhu (chinese: 四出五銖; pinyin: sì chū wǔ zhū; literally: 4 corner 5 zhu ) has 4 lines on reverse radiating corners of hole. attributed eastern han emperor ling, ad 186. 4 lines said represent wealth flowing ruined city—an omen of overthrow of han dynasty.
shu wu zhu (chinese: 蜀五銖; pinyin: shǔ wǔ zhū) coins have word chuan (chinese: 川; pinyin: chuān) on obverse, or numbers 1–32 on reverse, in incuse characters. attributed shu han (221–265) virtue of find spots in gansu.
shen lang wu zhu (chinese: 沈郎五銖; pinyin: shén láng wǔ zhū; literally: lord shen s ) has no jin component in zhu. attributed shen chong of house of wu , cast after foundation of eastern jin dynasty in 317. known shen chong wu zhu(chinese: 沈充五銖; pinyin: shén chōng wǔ zhū); old ballad contains lines:

elm seeds countless press in sheets,

lord shen s green cash line town streets.

apparently means lord shen s cash small , light.

dang liang wu zhu (chinese: 當兩; pinyin: dāng liǎng; literally: worth 2 ) large thick coin, nominal weight of 8 zhu. attributed emperor wen of southern dynasties song dynasty, had them cast in 447 measure against coining malpractices.
tian jian wu zhu has inner rim on obverse. @ start of liang dynasty, money used around capital. elsewhere grain , cloth used trade. in south, used gold , silver. therefore, in 1st year of tian jian period (502), emperor wu cast wu zhu coins outer , inner rim. cast sort without rim called female coin. 2 sorts circulated together.
nu qian (chinese: 女錢; pinyin: nǚ qián; literally: female coin ) have no outer rim.
an iron wu zhu 4 lines radiating corners of hole on reverse. attributed emperor wu of liang in 523. 535, traders in sichuan complaining of trouble of stringing such number of [cheap] coins, , of large number of carts needed transport them.
liang zhu wu zhu (chinese: 兩柱五銖; pinyin: liǎng zhù wǔ zhū; literally: 2 pillar ) has dot above , below hole on obverse. attributed emperor yuan of liang dynasty in 552. intended equivalent of ten ordinary coins.
si zhu wu zhu (chinese: 四柱五銖; pinyin: sìzhù wǔ zhū; literally: 4 pillar ) have 2 dots on obverse , reverse. attributed emperor jing of liang dynasty in 557. intended equivalent of twenty ordinary coins, became worth one. however, similar coins dots have been found in tombs of earlier date.
chen wu zhu. (chinese: 陳五銖; pinyin: chén wǔ zhū) has stout outer rim , no inner rim. top part of zhu component square while bottom part round. attributed emperor wen of southern dynasties chen dynasty , cast tian jia 3 (562). 1 chen wu zhu worth ten small goose-eye coins.
yong ping wu zhu (chinese: 永平五銖; pinyin: yǒng píng wǔ zhū) have characters long , thin. attributed emperor xuan of northern wei dynasty, during yong ping period (510).
da tong wu zhu (chinese: 大統五銖; pinyin: dà tǒng wǔ zhū) have stout outer rim, inner rim wu. crossing lines of wu straight. attributed emperor wen of western wei dynasty, datong period (540).
western wei wu zhu (chinese: 西魏五銖; pinyin: xīwèi wǔ zhū) have crossing lines of wu straight. inner rim wu only. attributed sui dynasty, coins of distinctive type found within tomb of houyi of western wei (535–56).
sui wu zhu (chinese: 随五銖; pinyin: suí wǔ zhū) hourglass wu, inner rim wu only. first cast emperor wen in 581. after introducing these new coins, emperor ordered frontiers hand on 100 cash samples in 583, , next year strictly forbade circulation of old coins , commanded when disobeyed, responsible officials should fined half years salary. 1,000 coins weighed 4 jin 2 liang. minting privileges granted several imperial princes during reign.
bai qian wu zhu (chinese: 白錢五銖; pinyin: bái qián wǔ zhū; literally: white coin ) has writing above. whitish colour of coin due addition of lead , tin alloy, done officially 585.
yan huan wu zhu (chinese: 綖環五銖; pinyin: yán huán wǔ zhū; literally: fringe or thread ring ) wu zhu middle has been cut out make 2 coins.
zao bian wu zhu (chinese: 鑿邊五銖; pinyin: záo biān wǔ zhū; literally: chiselled rim ) inner portion of wu zhu outer portion has gone make thread ring. surviving moulds show wu zhus cast this.
e yan (chinese: 鵝眼; pinyin: É yǎn; literally: goose eye ) or ji mu (chinese: 雞目; pinyin: jī mù; literally: chicken eye ) names given various diminutive wu zhu coins. common type sharp legends has been found in western han tombs of 73–33 bc.
small coins no characters. traditionally ascribed dong zhuo (chinese: 董卓; pinyin: dǒngzhuō), in 190 usurped throne , melted down 9 huge qin dynasty statues make coins. have been cast @ other times.




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