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 onwards. inscriptions on these coins consist of 1 character, can number, cyclical character, place name, or name of clan. possibility inscriptions names of merchants has not been entertained. crude writing of artisans made coins, not more careful script of scholars wrote votive inscriptions on bronzes. style of writing consistent of middle zhou period. on 200 inscriptions known; many have not been deciphered. characters can found on left or right of central line , inverted or retrograde. alloy of these coins typically 80% copper, 15% lead, , 5% tin. found in hoards of hundreds, rather thousands, tied in bundles. although there no mention in literature of purchasing power, clear not small change.
sloping shoulder spades: sloping shoulder spades have sloping shoulder, 2 outside lines on obverse , reverse @ angle. central line missing. type smaller prototype or square shoulder spades. inscriptions clearer, , consist of 2 characters. associated kingdom of zhou , henan area. smaller size indicates later in date square shoulder spades.


sloping shoulder money



pointed shoulder spades: type of spade has pointed shoulders , feet, , long hollow handle. there 3 parallel lines on obverse , reverse, , inscriptions. found in n.e. henan , in shanxi, territory of duchy of jin, later become zhao. held later in date square shouldered spades. shape seems designed ease of tying in bundles, rather developed particular agricultural instrument.

flat handled spade money

these have lost hollow handle of spades. have distinct legs, suggesting pattern influenced pointed shoulder hollow handled spades, had been further stylized easy handling. smaller, , have denominations specified in inscriptions place names. this, such little evidence can gleaned dates of establishment of of mint towns, show later development. archaeological evidence dates them warring states period (475–221 bc). arched foot spades have alloy consisting of 80% copper; other types copper content varies between 40% , 70%.

arched foot spades: type has arched crutch, inverted u. shoulders can rounded or angular. denominations of half, one, or 2 jin specified. associated state of liang (also known wei) flourished between 425 , 344 bce, , state of han (403–230 bce).
special spades of liang: similar in shape arched foot spades. inscriptions have been subject of debate. agreed these coins issued state of liang, , inscriptions indicate relationship between jin weight of coins, , lie, unit of weight or money.
pointed foot spades: type has pointed feet, , square crutch; shoulders can pointing upwards or straight. clear descendant of pointed shoulder hollow handled spade. weight , size of larger specimens compatible 1 jin unit of arched foot flat handled spades; smaller specimens specify unit 1 jin or more half jin, not specify unit. seems imply half jin unit became norm. associated state of zhao, , find spots in shanxi or hebei provinces. have numerals on reverses. 2 character mint names mean cities cast these coins can identified more certainty of earlier series.


square foot spade of yang



square foot spades: type has square feet, square crutch, , central line on obverse. reverses 3 lines, apart on spades produced mints in state of zhao produced pointed foot spades. these have numerals on reverse. mints produced square foot spades more numerous produced pointed foot spades. weights compatible half jin denomination. associated states of han, zhao, liang, zhou, , yan. find spots include provinces of inner mongolia, jilin, hebei, shanxi, shaanxi, shandong, jiangsu, anhui, henan, , zhejiang. type no doubt contemporary pointed foot spades; mints issued both types, , 2 found in hoards.
sharp cornered spades: these form distinct sub-series of square foot spades. differ normal type have small triangular projections on handle. inscriptions of 3 larger types include characters jin (chinese: 金; pinyin: jīn) , nie (chinese: 涅; pinyin: niè). while nie name of river in henan, character cannot readily construed part of place name, found in conjunction other place names such lu shi , yu. according fang yan (an ancient book on dialects), nie meant same hua (chinese: 化; pinyin: huà), money or coin. characters jin nie mean metal coin . weights of larger coins seem higher 14 grams of jin standard. find spots correspond states of liang , han.
dang jin spades: these constitute sub-group inscriptions suggest equivalence between units of 2 trading areas. both small , large coins have character jin (chinese: 伒; pinyin: jìn) in inscription. taken being same jin unit found on other flat handled spade coins. however, 28 gram weight of these coins suggests unit twice 14 grams of flat handled spade jin, perhaps local unit of area. smaller coin found 2 joined @ feet. how cast, not clear if intended circulate this. weight between 7 , 8 grams, quarter of larger coins, inscription indicating 4 equivalent jin logical. obverse inscriptions matter of debate. taking consensus, logical reading is: [city of] pei coin equivalent jin (chinese: 斾比當伒; pinyin: pèi bǐ dāng jìn).
round foot spades: round handle, round shoulders, , round feet. rare type, type represented coins of 5 cities in present-day shanxi, between fen , yellow river. there 2 sizes, equivalent of 1 jin , half jin denominations. have various numerals on reverses. 1 school of thought ascribes them states of qin , zhao @ end of warring states period; state of zhongshan during 4th century bc.


three-hole bu money



three hole spades: holes in handle , feet. round handle, round shoulders, , round feet. rare type. 2 sizes found. large size has inscription liang (chinese: 兩; pinyin: liǎng) on reverse; smaller shi er zhu (chinese: 十二銖; pinyin: shí èr zhū) (12 zhu). liang unit of weight divided 24 zhu, 2 sizes represent denominations of 1 , of half . have series numbers on handle on reverse. round foot spades, not established state issued them. find spots in eastern shanxi , hebei. mint names cities occupied both zhongshan , zhao.




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