Pre-Imperial .28770.E2.80.93220 BCE.29 Ancient Chinese coinage

1 pre-imperial (770–220 bce)

1.1 cowries
1.2 gold
1.3 jade pieces
1.4 money brand
1.5 spade money

1.5.1 hollow handled spade money
1.5.2 flat handled spade money


1.6 knife money
1.7 round coins

pre-imperial (770–220 bce)

the earliest coinage of china described sima qian, great historian of c. 100 bce:

opening of exchange between farmers, artisans, , merchants, there came use money of tortoise shells, cowrie shells, gold, coins (chinese: 錢; pinyin: qián), knives (chinese: 刀; pinyin: dāo), spades (chinese: 布; pinyin: bù) has been remote antiquity.

while nothing known use of tortoise shells money, gold , cowries (either real shells or replicas) used south of yellow river. although there no doubt well-known spade , knife money used coins, has not been demonstrated other items offered dealers coins such fish, halberds, , metal chimes used coins. not found in coin hoards, , probability these in fact funerary items. archaeological evidence shows earliest use of spade , knife money in spring , autumn period (770–476 bce). in ancient greece, socio-economic conditions @ time favourable adoption of coinage.

cowries

inscriptions , archaeological evidence shows cowrie shells regarded important objects of value in shang dynasty (c. 1766–1154 bc). in zhou period, referred gifts or rewards kings , nobles subjects. later imitations in bone, stone or bronze used money in instances. think first chinese metallic coins bronze imitations of cowrie shells found in tomb near anyang dating around 900 bc, these items lack inscriptions.

similar bronze pieces inscriptions, known ant nose money (chinese: 蟻鼻錢; pinyin: yǐ bí qián) or ghost face money (chinese: 鬼臉錢; pinyin: guǐ liǎn qián) used money. have been found in areas south of yellow river corresponding state of chu in warring states period. 1 hoard of 16,000 pieces. weight variable, , alloy contains high proportion of lead. name ant [and] nose refers appearance of inscriptions, , nothing keeping ants out of noses of corpses.

gold

gold coins marked ying yuan . ying being name of chu capital.

the minted gold of period known chu gold block money (chinese: 郢爰; pinyin: yǐng yuán), consists of sheets of gold 3–5 mm thick, of various sizes, inscriptions consisting of square or round stamps in there 1 or 2 characters. have been unearthed in various locations south of yellow river indicating products of state of chu. 1 of characters in inscription monetary unit or weight read yuan (chinese: 爰; pinyin: yuán). pieces of variable size , thickness, , stamps appear device validate whole block, rather guide enable broken unit pieces. specimens have been reported in copper, lead, or clay. probable these funeral money, not circulating coinage, found in tombs, gold coins not.

jade pieces

it has been suggested pieces of jade form of money in shang dynasty.

money brand

metal money brands (chinese: 錢牌; pinyin: qián pái) used in state of chu. used again in song dynasty.

spade money


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.

knife money


yan state knife money (燕国刀币)



six-word knife money

knife money same shape actual knives in use during zhou period. appear have evolved in parallel spade money in north-east of china.

qi knives: these large knives attributed state of qi, , found in shandong area. not appear have circulated outside of area. although there has been considerable controversy concerning date of issue, archaeology shows them products of warring states period. known 3 character knives, 4 character knives , on, according number of characters in inscriptions. consider 3 horizontal lines , mark below on reverses part of inscription. inscription refers establishment of state of qi. have been in 1122 bc, 894 bc, 685 bc, or 386 bc, depending on how 1 interprets histories. 2 later dates introduction of these coins. alloy of 3 character knives contains around 54% copper, 38% lead, , 8% tin. 4 , 5 character knives contain 70% copper.
needle tip knives: type of knife money distinguished long, pointed tip. unknown until 1932, when hoard unearthed @ chengde in hebei province; later hoards have been found in area. has been suggested such knives produced trade between chinese , xiongnu (huns) occupied northern area @ time. type merely local variation of pointed tip knives, or original type became modified inconvenient use. fifty inscriptions have been recorded, consist of numbers, cyclical characters, , other characters, many of have not been deciphered.
pointed tip knives: end of blade curved lacks long pointed tip of needle tip knives. find spots of type of knife money in north-east of china associate state of yan. in recent years, hoards of 2,000 of these knives have been made, tied in bundles of 25, 50, or 100. on 160 different inscriptions have been recorded. inscriptions represent numbers or cyclical characters, many have not been deciphered. unlike hollow handle spade money, characters have not been associated known places names. sizes , weights (11 16 grams) variable, leading various sub-types being proposed various authorities.
ming knives: ming knives smaller pointed tip knives, , tips approximately straight. type of knife money takes name character on obverse, has traditionally been read ming (chinese: 明; pinyin: míng). other proposals have been yi (chinese: 易; pinyin: yì), ju (chinese: 莒; pinyin: jǔ), ming (chinese: 盟; pinyin: méng), , zhao (chinese: 召; pinyin: zhào). mint ming knives unearthed @ xiadu, south west of peking. site of yi, capital of state of yan 360 bc, reading of yi has found favour recently. moulds have been discovered in shandong. these coins have been found, in great quantities, in provinces of hebei, henan, shandong, shanxi, shaanxi, manchuria, , far afield korea , japan. found pointed , square foot spade money.


two different shapes of ming knife found. first, presumably earlier, curved pointed tip knives. second has straight blade , pronounced angled bend in middle. shape known 磬 qing, chime stone. alloy contains around 40% copper; weigh around 16 grams.


a wide range of characters found on reverses of ming knives. single characters or numerals, similar found on pointed tip knives. 2 large groups have inscriptions begin characters (chinese: 右; pinyin: yòu; literally: right ) or zuo (chinese: 左; pinyin: zuǒ; literally: left ), followed numerals or other characters. has subsidiary meaning of junior or west; zuo can mean senior or east. (the excavations @ xiadu revealed in inner city zuo gong left-hand palace, , gong right-hand palace.) similarities between other characters in these 2 groups show determined same system. smaller group has inscriptions beginning wai (chinese: 外; pinyin: wài; literally: outside ), other characters not have in common , zuo groups. fourth group has inscriptions beginning unclear character, , other characters similar found in , zuo groups. analogy wai, unclear character has been read nei (chinese: 内; pinyin: nèi; literally: inside ) or zhong (chinese: 中; pinyin: zhōng; literally: centre ).


state of qi ming knives (boshan knives): general appearance similar ming knives. ming character large , angular. have extensive reverse inscriptions. hoard of these knives unearthed in jiaqing period (1796–1820) in boshan in eastern shandong. later finds have been made in same area. area part of state of qi; , legends refer qi. between 284 , 279 bc, state of yan occupied of territory of qi, , accepted these coins come time. otherwise, reverse inscriptions, appear refer place names, have not been satisfactorily deciphered. 1 reading gives first character ju (chinese: 莒; pinyin: jǔ) ju city.
straight knives: these smaller knives, , blades not curved or curved. issued few places in state of zhao. category includes other smaller knives of various shapes. found in hoards ming knives.

early round coins

an yī huà (一化) coin.

the round coin, precursor of familiar cash coin, circulated in both spade , knife money areas in zhou period, around 350 bc. apart 2 small , presumably late coins state of qin, coins spade money area have round hole , refer jin , liang units. knife money area have square hole , denominated in hua.

although discussion purposes zhou coins divided categories of knives, spades, , round coins, apparent archaeological finds of various kinds circulated together. hoard found in 1981, near hebi in north henan province, consisted of: 3,537 gong spades, 3 anyi arched foot spades, 8 liang dang lie spades, 18 liang square foot spades , 1,180 yuan round coins, contained in 3 clay jars. example find made in liaoning province in 1984, consisted of 2,280 yi hua round coins, 14 spade coins, , 120 ming knives. in 1960 in shandong, 2 yi hua round coins found 600 qi round coins , 59 qi knives. @ luoyang find made in 1976 of 116 flat handled spades of various types (xiangyuan, lin, nie, pingyang, yu, anyang, , gong), 46 anzang round coins, 1 yuan round coin, , small/sloping shoulder spades sanchuan, wu, anzang, dong zhou, feng, , anzhou.