Spade money Ancient Chinese coinage
spade money hollow handled spade money hollow handled spades (chinese: 布幣; pinyin: bùbì) link between weeding tools used barter , stylised objects used money. flimsy use, retain hollow socket genuine tool attached handle. socket rectangular in cross-section, , still retains clay casting process. in socket hole tool fixed handle reproduced. prototype spade money: type of spade money similar in shape , size original agricultural implements. while perhaps robust enough used in fields, others lighter , bear inscription, name of city issued it. of these objects have been found in shang , western zhou tombs, date c. 1200–800 bc. inscribed specimens appear date c. 700 bc. square shoulder spades: square shoulder spade coins have square shoulders, straight or curving foot, , 3 parallel lines on obverse , reverse. found in quantities of several hundreds in area corresponding royal domain of zhou (south hebei , north henan). archaeological evidence dates them spring , autumn period, around 650 bc...