Wu Zhu (Chinese:
Wu Zhu | |||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | |||||||||||||||
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Literal meaning | five zhu | ||||||||||||||
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The production of Wu Zhu cash coins was briefly suspended by Wang Mang during the Xin dynasty but after the reestablishment of the Han dynasty, the production of Wu Zhu cash coins resumed, and continued to be manufactured long after the fall of the Eastern Han dynasty for another 500 years.[3] Minting was definitively ended in 618 with the establishment of the Tang dynasty. Wu Zhu cash coins were cast from 118 BC to 618 AD having a span of 736 years, which is the longest for any coin in human history.[4]
History
editWestern Han dynasty
edit"Wu" means "five" (5) and zhu was an ancient Chinese unit of weight equal to 100 grains of millet. A "five zhu" cash coin would weigh about 4 grams. Originally Ban Liang cash weighed 12 Zhu as a Liang (tael) was 24 Zhu, however over time the weight of Ban Liang cash coins gradually decreased so the Wu Zhu cash coins were introduced as a new standard unit (after the earlier San Zhu, or "3 Zhu" cash coins) under the reign of Emperor Emperor Wu.[5] The introduction of the Wu Zhu also fixed the standard exchange between bronze coins and gold as 10,000 bronze Wu Zhu cash coins would be worth 1 Jin of gold.[6]
The first Wu Zhu cash coins had unfiled edges but the second series issued under the reign of Emperor Wu had them filed. In 118 BC the central government of the Han dynasty ordered both the Commanderies (
Starting from the year 113 BC, the central government regained the exclusive authority to manufacture coinage, from this point Wu Zhu cash coins started being produced by the Three Offices of Shang Lin (
Under the reign of Emperor Xuan which lasted from 73 BC until 49 BC the Wu characters were less in size and notably was written with slightly crooked strokes that don't extend to the horizontal lines of the top and bottom ends. A number of these Western Han dynasty Wu Zhu cash coins also displayed dots which represent "stars" and crescents which represent the moon on the interior rim of the coin as well as other symbols which were considered to be auspicious being some of the earliest examples of cash coins used as Chinese amulets and charms.[9]
In the 123 years after 118 BCE, when Wu Zhu cash coins were initially introduced, over 28 billion coins were cast for circulation.[10][11]
Xin dynasty
editAfter Wang Mang had overthrown the Han dynasty with his own Xin dynasty he wished to displace the Wu Zhu currency of the Western Han dynasty,[12] owing, it is said, to his prejudice to the "Jin" (Chinese:
Chengjia
editThe Iron Wu Zhu's of Chengjia, which resemble the Western Han dynasty Wu Zhu coin, is attributed to Gongsun Shu, who rebelled in Sichuan in AD 25, and issued iron coins, two being equal to one Jian Wu Wu Zhu (Chinese:
Eastern Han dynasty
editAfter the fall of the Xin dynasty the production of Wu Zhu cash coins was resumed. After the restoration of the Han dynasty the production of Wu Zhu cash coins was first resumed under Emperor Guangwu who reigned from the year 25 until 56 AD.[17] Under the reign of the warlord Dong Zhuo (
The Three Kingdoms
editThe Three Kingdoms period was an era in Chinese history that lasted from 220 until 280 and was characterised by a period of disunity following the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty.[18] The Kingdom of Shu Han was founded after Liu Bei seized control of the city of Chengdu, immediately after the city was taken Liu Bei had discovered that the treasury was completely empty which meant that he didn't have the funds for his military expenses, this was paired with a severe shortage of copper, this severe lack of copper was so bad that it is said that in order to manufacture cash coins even the hooks which were used to hang bed curtains were melted as the government desperately needed the metal. To cover the state's expenses Liu Bei ordered the creation of Zhi Bai Wu Zhu (
In the Kingdom of Cao Wei which was established by Cao Cao in 220 it is believed that only Wu Zhu coins were cast, moulds have been found dating to this period and it is confirmed that Wu Zhu cash coins were cast from the first year of the Taihe period (227) until the second year of Xianxi period (265).[20]
Jin dynasty and the 16 Kingdoms
editUnder Sima Yan China was reunited for a short period of time under the rule of the Western Jin dynasty ruled from Luoyang. The Chinese economy improved under Jin rule and although no historical records mention the production of coinage under the Jin as the quantity of old Wu Zhu cash coins from the Han dynasty that were still in circulation would not have been sufficient it is likely that the government would've had to cast a large number of cash coins in order to need the demand coming from the market. The Great Dictionary of Chinese Numismatics claims that Wu Zhu cash coins were being cast in the city of Chengdu in the Shu region of the Western Jin dynasty (which lies in modern-day Sichuan).[21] After a family struggle within the Sima family caused a devastating civil war, China was so weakened that the "five barbarian tribes" from the north started conquering territories in China and established their own states starting the sixteen kingdoms period.
Former Liang Kingdom
editThe Kingdom of Former Liang started casting Wu Zhu cash coins which have traditionally been attributed to the Kingdom of Shu known as "Shu Wu Zhu" cash coins, some of these Wu Zhu's have been discovered in the Hexi corridor (in current day Gansu province) which lead archaeologists to believe that they may have been cast under the reign of Zhang Gui.[9]
The Northern and Southern dynasties
editAfter the Eastern Jin dynasty fell the Northern and Southern dynasties period commenced in the year 420. In the Southern dynasties it was customary for people to remove the middle part of Wu Zhu cash coins to create two separate coins, the portion cut out of the outer ring of the Wu Zhu is usually referred to as a "thread ring Wu Zhu" (綖環
All cash coins of this period typically have a narrow rim.[23] However, during this period private minting was way more common in the Southern dynasties than in the Northern dynasties, which is the reason that Wu Zhu cash coins and other coins of the Southern dynasties were more uneven than those of the Northern dynasties.[23]
All the coins of the period had the same kind of seal script calligraphy.[23]
Liang dynasty
editUnder the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty there were two types of Wu Zhu cash coins which were being manufactured, some had an outside while others did not have an outside rim with the Wu Zhu cash coins without an outside rim are referred to as "Female coins" (
From the year 523 onwards the government of the Liang dynasty decided to cast iron Wu Zhu cash coins due to the fact that iron was both relatively easy and not expensive to acquire in what is today Sichuan.[9] The iron cash coins issued by the Liang dynasty are quite distinctive from other iron cash coins as they have 4 lines that radiate outwards from each corner of the square center hole which is why they're referred to as "four corner coins" (
In 552 under the reign of Emperor Yuan the capital city was moved to the city of Jiangling, the Jiangling Mint issued Wu Zhu cash coins which had two "stars" (a term used to refer to dots on cash coins) on the obverse of the Wu Zhu, one "star" was situated above the square center hole and one below and for this reason are commonly known as "Two Pillar Wu Zhu cash coins" (
From the year 557 under the reign of Emperor Jing had Wu Zhu cash coins produced that had one "star" above the square hole and one "star" below on both sides of these Wu Zhu's which is why they are known as "Four Pillar Wu Zhu cash coins" (
Another variant of Liang dynasty era Wu Zhu's known as the "Three Pillar Wu Zhu cash coins" (
Note that despite their high nominal values, "Two Pillar", "Three Pillar", and "Four Pillar" Wu Zhu cash coins usually weighed less than 2 or 3 grams, this disparity between their nominal and intrinsic values was a contributing factor to the decline of the economy of the Liang dynasty.[9]
Chen dynasty
editThe Chen dynasty produced Wu Zhu cash coins which had a nominal value of 10 "Goose Eye Wu Zhu's" and/or "Chicken Eye Wu Zhu's" and were known as "Tianjia Wu Zhu cash coins" (
Under the reign of Emperor Xuan in 579 the Taihuo Liuzhu (
Northern Wei dynasty
editThe Northern Wei dynasty was a Xianbei ruled state under the Tuoba clan that adopted the administrative system of the Han Chinese and even established their capital city at Luoyang, a city which had been the capital city of various preceding Chinese dynasties and mandated that his people adopt both Chinese fashion and language.[9] During this period Emperor Xiaowen ordered the issuance of the Taihe Wuzhu (
The Northern Wei dynasty started issuing regular Wu Zhu (
Emperor Xiaozhuang ordered the creation of the Yongan Wuzhu in the year 529 which was during the Yongan period (528–530), despite the fact that the authoritative power government of the Northern Wei dynasty was in trouble as the rebellion of the Six Frontier Towns waged on for a decade. After Emperor Xiaowu was forced to flee from Luoyang in the year 534 the country split into the Western Wei dynasty and the Eastern Wei dynasty, and despite the fact that neither country existed for a long period of time they both continued issuing Yongan Wuzhu cash coins to the point that both large quantities and a large number of varieties exist, as well as the fact that Yongan Wuzhu cash coins are still extremely common today.[9]
During this era various nicknames for cash coins were given by the people which include the "Auspicious cash coins" (
There were other cash coins in this era which also had descriptive nicknames assigned to them such as "Yongzhou Green-Red" (雍州
Western Wei dynasty
editThe Western Wei dynasty existed briefly from the year 535 until 556, historical records mention that an Wu Zhu cash coin was cast during the Datong period (535–551) which had a calligraphic style akin to that of the earlier Yongan Wuzhu cash coins as well as those of the Sui Wu Zhu's. A defining characteristic of these "Datong Wu Zhu cash coins" (
Northern Qi dynasty
editThe Northern Qi dynasty was a country founded by Emperor Wenxuan that existed from the year 550 until 577, from the year 553 the Changping Wuzhu (
Sui dynasty
editChina was reunified under the Sui dynasty (581–618). Under this short-lived dynasty, many reforms were initiated that led to the subsequent success of the Tang dynasty.[9] The only coin associated with the Sui is a Wu Zhu coin.[9] The Sui dynasty only cast one type of coin, a Wu Zhu with wide rim that has been found in excavations that clearly indicated that it belonged to the Sui period.[26] Chinese numismatic researcher Peng Xinwei believed that the Sui dynasty period Wu Zhu was adopted from the Western Wei, because it is said in the history of the Sui, that Wu Zhus already circulated in the first year of the Sui, and that additional new cash coins were minted at the same time.[26]
Emperor Wen decreed that Wu Zhu cash coins be produced in the first year of the Kaihuang period (581 in the Gregorian calendar), alongside the introduction of this new Wu Zhu cash coin the older currencies were gradually being deprecated and with the conquest of the Chen dynasty the coins now known as "Sui Wu Zhu cash coins" (
Among the varieties of the Sui dynasty era Wu Zhu is one which is particularly well-made composed of what the Chinese call "white copper" (
List of types of Wu Zhu coins
editAlmost 900 different types and over 1800 varieties of Wu Zhu cash coins and Wu Zhu derivatives are known to exist.
List of variants of Wu Zhu cash coins:[29][9]
Variants of Wu Zhu ( | |
Variant | Image |
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Jun Guo Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Chi Ze Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Shang Lin San Guan Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Wu Zhu Coins (AD 25). Even after the end of the Wang Mang regime (see below), the coinage system remained in disarray. Cloth, silk and grain were used as money along with coins. However, cash was the normal measure of wealth and was used in large quantities. When Yang Ping (92–195) was in economic difficulties, he was offered a gift of one million cash. Wu Zhu coins continued to be issued, along with other coins, until the end of the sixth century. Some coins can be attributed to specific reigns or events; many can not. | |
The Iron Wu Zhu, resembling the W. Han coin, is attributed to Gongsun Shu, who rebelled in Sichuan in AD 25, and issued iron coins, two being equal to one Jian Wu Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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The Si Chu Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which displays a long, prominent horizontal line on the obverse right above the square center hole. The diameter of this particular type of Wu Zhu cash coins tend to be around 20.6 millimeters and their weight generally is around 1.7 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which is distinctive in that it has three slanted lines above, and three slanted lines below, the square center hole. The slanting lines are raised above the surface which means that they had to be a part of the coin mould at the time of their production. The three lines above and the three lines below resemble the symbols on the Western Han dynasty era Ban Liang cash coins. This type of Wu Zhu cash coins generally tends to have a diameter of 23 millimeters and their weight tends to be around 1.8 grams. | |
There are several types of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins which have four lines (or possibly elongated dots) to the left of the square center hole on the reverse side of the cash coin. These ancient Chinese symbols are similar to those that appeared on the reverse sides of some Western Han dynasty era Ban Liang cash coins. These types of Wu Zhu cash coins generally tend to have a diameter of 22.6 millimeters and a weight of 1.4 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that has four (4- oblique lines extending outward from each corner of the square center hole to the rim on the reverse side of the cash coin. In Mandarin Chinese, this technique is referred to as "Si Chu" ( |
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There is another type of "Si Chu" ( |
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Some types of Wu Zhu cash coins contain Chinese characters and/or other ancient Chinese symbols. There is type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins with the Hanzi (Chinese) character "Xiao" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins produced during the Eastern Han dynasty era that has the Chinese character "Wang" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which have the Chinese character "Gong" ( |
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There is another type of Wu Zhu cash coins which also display a very distinct "Gong" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which display ancient Chinese auspicious symbols, both above and below the square hole are swastikas. In China the swastika represents the Hanzi (Chinese) character "Wan" ( |
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Shu Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Shen Lang Wu Zhu (Chinese: 沈郎
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Dang Liang Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins with the character for "ten" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins where the Hanzi (Chinese) character "ten" ( |
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There is a series of Wu Zhu cash coins which has the Hanzi (Chinese) character for "ten" ( |
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There are various types of Wu Zhu cash coins that incorporate counting rods which are also known as "rod numbers" (numerals), this ancient form of writing Chinese numbers that occasionally appear on old Chinese cash coins rod numerals are believed to have been mainly used for doing calculations.. Among the types of Wu Zhu cash coins with rod numerals is one specific type produced under the reign of the Eastern Han dynasty. The distinctive feature of these cash coin is that there are four vertical bars (or lines) incused below the square center hole. "Incuse" means that the lines were cut, engraved or punched into the Wu Zhu cash coin, it is currently still unclear why they sometimes appear on these very old Chinese coins. As seen in the Wu Zhu cash coins that display the Chinese numbers "one" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coin which above the hole of has a short vertical line intersected by a longer horizontal line. This ancient Chinese symbol, which resembles a "T" turned on its side, appears to be the rod number "six" as written in the old Chinese rod numeral system. This series of Wu Zhu cash coins generally have a diameter of 22.6 millimeters and tend to have a weight of 1.9 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins on which there appears to be the ancient Chinese rod numeral "six" below the square center hole the reverse side of the cash coin. The diameter of this series of Wu Zhu cash coins is generally around 23 millimeters and their weight averages out around 1.7 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which above the square center hole appear to have an ancient Chinese rod numeral, this ancient Chinese rod number appears to be protruding above the surface of the cash coin, it is a horizontal line with three vertical lines underneath. This is the ancient Chinese rod numeral symbol for "8" (eight). The series of Wu Zhu cash coins is also unusual because of the two dots (which are meant to represent "stars" on ancient Chinese cash coins) inside the "Wu" ( |
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There is a series of Wu Zhu cash coins which has an ancient Chinese symbol above the square center hole which is very similar to a rod numeral. This symbol resembles the Chinese character "Shang" ( |
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Some types of Wu Zhu cash coins have what appear to be lines, among them is a very specific type which on its obverse side has a very prominent vertical line (竖) above, and another very prominent vertical line below the square center hole. This series of Wu Zhu cash coins tend to have a diameter of 22.5 millimeters and a weight of 1.8 grams. | |
There is a type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins which have a long vertical line above and another below the square center hole on the reverse side. Since in this specific type of Wu Zhu cash coins the lines tend to be raised above the coin's surface, these lines had to have been intentionally included in the casting mould from which the cash coin was manufactured. The diameter of this type of Wu Zhu cash coins tend to be 23 millimeters and their weight is generally around 2 grams. | |
Tian Jian Wu Zhu has an inner rim on obverse. At the start of the Liang dynasty, money was only used around the capital. Elsewhere grain and cloth were used for trade. In the south, everyone used gold and silver. Therefore, in the 1st year of the Tian Jian period (502), the Emperor Wu cast Wu Zhu coins with an outer and inner rim. He also cast another sort without a rim called the female coin. The two sorts circulated together. | |
Nu Qian (Chinese: |
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An iron Wu Zhu with four lines radiating from the corners of the hole on the reverse. Attributed to Emperor Wu of Liang in 523. By 535, the traders in Sichuan were complaining of the trouble of stringing together such a number of [cheap] coins, and of the large number of carts needed to transport them. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which has two vertical lines in relief above the square center hole on the reverse side of the cash coin. The two lines allegedly represent the number "two" in Chinese ( |
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There is a type of Han dynasty era Wu Zhu that has three vertical lines above the square center hole. These three lines allegedly represent the Chinese number "three" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that are similar to the type described above except that there are three slanting lines located below the square center hole. The three lines allegedly also represent the Chinese character for "three" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coin has another "Wu" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that have the Hanzi character "Liu" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that has the Hanzi (Chinese) character "Ba" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that has the number "nine" ( |
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There is a type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins that has a rather large and unusually well made Hanzi (Chinese) character "ten" ( |
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There is a rather unusual type of Wu Zhu cash coins which have the Hanzi (Chinese) character for "ten" ( |
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Liang Zhu Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Si Zhu Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Chen Wu Zhu. (Chinese: |
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There is a type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins that has a short bar or Chinese (Hanzi) character "one" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins where the "one" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that has on its obverse side (far left) a prominent "one" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins that also has the Chinese character ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins where the character "one" ( |
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There is a particular type of Wu Zhu cash coins which has two long horizontal lines above the square center hole which may or may not represent the Chinese character (Hanzi) for "two" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which has two short horizontal lines above the "Zhu" (銖) character at the left of the square center hole. These two parallel lines represent the Chinese character (Hanzi) for "two" ( |
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There is a type of Wu Zu cash coins that was cast during the "Six Dynasties period" in Chinese history, during this time some very refined cash coins were cast, however most cash coins from this period can be described as rather crude and inferior. Among these types of cash coin is an Wu Zhu can coin where the "Zhu" (銖) character to the left of the square center hole has been simplified so that only its right side component of "Zhu" ( |
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There is a Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins that have a short vertical line or bar above the square center hole. This symbol may or may not represent the Chinese number "one" ( |
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There is a type of Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins that on their obverse side have two vertical lines in relief (known as "阳文" in Mandarin Chinese) above the square center hole. The two lines represent the Chinese number "two" ( |
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Yong Ping Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Da Tong Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Western Wei Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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There is a type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins that is distinguished by having two prominent dots (or "stars") on its obverse side below the square center hole. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 23.3 millimeters and a weight of 1.8 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which are from the Eastern Han dynasty that displays three dots (or "stars", as they represent) below the square center hole on its obverse side. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 23 millimeters and a weight of 1.5 grams. | |
There is an Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coin which on its reverse side has three "stars" (dot) below the square center hole. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter which is 23 millimeters and a weight which is 2 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which to the left has four large slanting dots (which all represent "stars") on its obverse side above the square hole. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 24.2 millimeters and a weight of 2 grams. | |
There is a type of Wu Zhu cash coins which were all probably cast during the reign of the Eastern Han dynasty, that appear to have what seems to be a series of four "stars" (or "dots") on its reverse side below the square hole. And to the left of these dots (which represent "stars") is a small crescent (which may or may not represent the "moon"), as is what seems to generally be the case with some the very oldest coins with charm-like symbols, the exact meaning and their intent currently remain unclear. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 24.5 millimeters and a weight of 2.8 grams. | |
Another type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins has five dots (representing "stars") above the square hole. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 24 millimeters and a weight of 2.8 grams. | |
Another type not too dissimilar as the Eastern Han dynasty wra Wu Zhu cash coins also have five dots (representing "stars") above the square center hole but these in a different configuration. The diameter of these Wu Zhu cash coins is 25 millimeters and their weight is 2.1 grams. | |
Another type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins have a series of five dots (representing "stars") below the square center hole on its obverse side. The coin's diameter in this type of Wu Zhu cash coins is 23.7 millimeters and their weight is 2.4 grams. | |
Soke Wu Zhu cash coins with Circles (representing the "Sun") tend to be rather nicely cast, these Wu Zhu cash coins have a "circle" (representing the "sun") below the square center hole. These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 25.2 millimeters and a weight of 4.1 grams. | |
Some types of Wu Zhu cash coins contain numbers. Among them is yet another type of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu cash coins. This particular type has one horizontal line, which represents the Hanzi character for "one" ( |
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Sui Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Bai Qian Wu Zhu (Chinese: |
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Yan Huan Wu Zhu (Chinese: 綖環 |
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Some Wu Zhu cash coins have reversed inscriptions similar to the Ban Liang cash coins, these Wu Zhu can coins were cast with the inscription (legend) reversed. Usually, the "Wu" ( |
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Wu Zhu Coins with Dots or "Stars", Some of these have a very well formed dot or "star" above the upper left corner of the square hole. The "star" (dot) in this variant actually has a small tail which makes it appear similar to a shooting star or a "tadpole lucky cloud". These cash coins generally have a diameter of 25.7 millimeters and a weight of 3.2 grams. | |
Another type of early Wu Zhu has a dot (or "star") located just above the "Wu" ( |
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Another variant of the Wu Zhu cash coin has a large dot (or "star" in Chinese symbolism) below the character "Wu" ( |
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There is an Wu Zhu cash coin that has a very large dot (or "star" in Chinese symbolism) just below the square hole, these cash coins notably have no outer rim. For this reason, these cash coin are known as the "Gongshi Nüqian" ( |
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During the Eastern Han dynasty (which lasted from 25 AD until 220 AD) an Wu Zhu cash coin with a "star" (represented by a dot) below the square center hole was cast. In certain specimens, however, the dot is not round but triangular in shape. These particular versions of the Wu Zhu cash coin have a diameter of 25.8 millimeters and a weight of 2.7 grams. | |
There is an Wu Zhu cash coin which on the reverse side has a single "star" (or "dot") located to the left of the square center hole and near the rim of the cash coin. These cash coins have a diameter of 26 millimeters and a weight of 3.1 grams. | |
There is an Wu Zhu cash coin that has a large triangular dot (or "triangular star") just above the square center hole. Also, it has centered between the lower edge of the square center hole and the rim is a smaller, but well-formed, round dot (or "star"). These Wu Zhu cash coins have a diameter of 22 millimeters and a weight of 1.8 grams. | |
There is an Wu Zhu cash coin that is a well-known variety of Eastern Han dynasty era Wu Zhu coins, which has are two dots inside of the Chinese character "Wu" ( |
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There is an Wu Zhu cash coin that has two very distinct dots (or "stars") on its obverse side above the square center hole. If one were to observe it closely, they would see that this same Wu Zhu cash coin also has two "stars" to the left of the square center hole on its reverse side. This type of Wu Zhu cash coin's diameter is 22.6 millimeters and has a weight of 2.3 grams. | |
Zao Bian Wu Zhu (Chinese: 鑿邊 |
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E Yan (Chinese: 鵝眼; pinyin: É yǎn; lit. 'Goose Eye') or Ji Mu (Chinese: 雞目; pinyin: jī mù; lit. 'Chicken Eye') are the names given to various diminutive Wu Zhu coins. This is a common type with sharp legends which has been found in Western Han tombs of 73–33 BC. | |
Small coins with no characters. Traditionally ascribed to Dong Zhuo (Chinese: |
Kingdom of Kucha
editThe Kingdom of Kucha was a Buddhist state located in present-day Kucha County, Xinjiang, it was first recorded during the Han dynasty and was later annexed by the Tang, during its time it was a prominent player on the silk road. From around the third or fourth century the Kingdom of Kucha began the manufacture of Wu Zhu cash coins inspired by the diminutive and devalued Wu Zhu's of the post-Han dynasty era in Chinese history.[33]
There are five known types of Kucha cash coins based on the Chinese Wu Zhu's which are usually characterised by the fact that they're diminutive in size, very thin, and tend to have both weak and irregular inscriptions while four of these types tend to have no inscriptions at all. One type of Kucha Wu Zhu cash coin is the "Han Gui bilingual Wu Zhu coin" (
The Buddhist monk Xuanzang describes that there are "small bronze coins" in the city of Kucha while he visited there in the year 630 which is mentioned in his work "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" during the Tang dynasty. These cash coins are likely to have been the "Han Gui bilingual Wu Zhu coin".[9]
Wu Zhu coins and the emergence of Chinese charms
editWu Zhu cash coins played a central role in the emergence of Chinese numismatic charms,[37][38] as the Wu Zhu cash coins were cast in enormous quantities during both the Western Han dynasty and the subsequent seven hundred years of its usage not all variants can be directly attributed to every ruler, however "auspicious" symbols such as stars (dots), suns (circles), moons (crescents), numbers, rod numerals, Hanzi characters, lines, and others started to be used after the Eastern Han dynasty, the reason for the earlier uniformity was the usage of bronze moulds which last for a long time, these moulds continued to be used over and over again by subsequent dynasties. However, as other techniques such as mother coins started to be used some mints started adding these "auspicious" symbols which became the inspiration for later Chinese charms and amulets.[39][40][41] Although the usage of some these symbols were already used on the earlier Ban Liang cash coins, they became more common on the Wu Zhu. It unclear why exactly these symbols started being added in large quantities during the Eastern Han dynasty and later but the first Chinese charms and amulets started emulating their design. Some of these early Wu Zhu coins also had the precursors to the "flower" or "rosette" holes found on later cash coins as such coins were discussed in an article in the 1987 (7th issue) of the Chinese periodical "Shaanxi Finance" (
Wu Zhu charms
editChinese numismatic charms based on Wu Zhu cash coins tend to feature the same "auspicious symbolism" as contemporary Wu Zhu cash coins had themselves including crescents representing the moon, circles representing the sun,[45] and dots representing the stars, in fact to an untrained eye Wu Zhu charms can be interchangeable with regular Wu Zhu coins. Other than these features it's also not uncommon for Wu Zhu charms to feature wholly original iconography from various aspects of Chinese culture such as a dragon and a fisherman.[46] Other than simply having the inscription "Wu Zhu" some Wu Zhu charms are also based on other variants of the Wu Zhu cash coins with four character inscriptions that incorporate the legend "Wu Zhu".[47][48]
Wu Zhu cash coins are sometimes Integrated into other types of charms and amulets, as there is a variant Daruma doll which features Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, holding a Northern Wei dynasty period Taihe Wuzhu cash coin.[25]
Wu Zhu coin moulds (gallery)
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Photograph by Professor Gary Lee Todd (Professor of History, SIAS International University, Xinzheng, Henan, China)
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Shanghai Museum.
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Shanghai Museum.
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Shanghai Museum.
Hoards of Wu Zhu cash coins
editIn the modern era hoards of Wu Zhu cash coins tend to be very common in China as these coins were produced in large quantities.
- In 1980, a golden Wu Zhu cash coin was unearthed in the prefecture-level city of Xianyang in province of Shaanxi.[49] This golden cash coin is 2.6 cm in diameter and was cast during the Western Han dynasty period.[49]
- In 2000 at the archeological site of So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun in the special administrative region of Hong Kong over sixty Han dynasty era bronze cash coins were unearthed which included both Ban Liang (
半 兩 ) and Wu Zhu (五 銖) cash coins, among the hoard were also pieces of linen and bamboo mats.[50] - In January 2006 during the construction of a plaza in Pingli County, Shaanxi a Han dynasty era tomb was uncovered, during its excavation archeologists found 259 Wu Zhu cash coins, 1 tripod made from iron, a pottery kitchen range as well as 3 pottery urns.[51]
- On 16 July 2012 a large cache of 14,000 ancient Chinese coins was found in Kuqa, Xinjiang which included Han dynasty era Wu Zhu (
五 銖) and "Chiseled rim Wu Zhu" (鑿邊五 銖) cash coins, Xin dynasty era Huo Quan (貨泉) and Daquan Wushi (大泉 五 十 ) cash coins, a Three Kingdoms period Taiping Baiqian (太平 百 錢 ) cash coins, as well as native cash coins. Alongside the cash coins were shards of pottery as well as fragments of human bones which lead the archeologists believe that this was an old cemetery.[52] - In August 2012 a large hoard of Wu Zhu cash coins and Xin dynasty era cash coins was found in the city of Huoluochaideng, Inner Mongolia. The hoard included 3500 kg of Chinese cash coins and around 150 clay moulds used to manufacture coins from the Xin dynasty. According to archeologists the site might've been a mint that was in operation since the reign of Emperor Wu until Emperor Wang Mang.[53][54][55]
- In 2015 Chinese archeologists uncovered 10 tonnes of bronze Wu Zhu cash coins from the Western Han dynasty (or around 2 million coins) alongside over ten thousand of other iron, bronze, and gold items in the Haihunhou cemetery near Nanchang, Jiangxi, among the other uncovered items were bamboo slips, wood tablets, as well as jade objects. As these Wu Zhu cash coins were strung in strings of 1000 pieces this proved that the practice of stringing cash coins per 1000 didn't first happen during the Tang dynasty as was previously thought but actually six hundred years earlier.[56][57]
- In 2018 in South Korea 26 Wu Zhu cash coins were unearthed in a tomb in Kyongsan, North Gyeongsang.[citation needed]
See also
editExplanatory notes
edit- ^ These are alternately referred to as Gōngshì nǚ qián (
公式 女 錢 /公式 女 钱).
References
edit- ^ Numis' Numismatic Encyclopedia. A reference list of 5000 years of Chinese coinage. (Numista) Written on December 9, 2012 • Last edit: June 13, 2013. Retrieved: 23 August 2018.
- ^ One Thousand Years of Wu Zhu Coinage (118 BC-AD 958) by H. Gratzer and A. Fishman (09 December 2016) ISBN 1539677141.
- ^ Li Fang, Shengqiang Luo, Wenli Zhou, Chunxin Wang, Zhengyao Jin, Fang Huang, and Anchuan Fan (11 March 2023). "Counterfeiting activities during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE) revealed by the special alloy coins in the Chenzhou hoard, Hunan, China". Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 49. Journal of Archaeological Science (ScienceDirect, Elsevier). Bibcode:2023JArSR..49j3942F. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103942. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Wu Zhu – One of the longest lived coin types". by Bob Reis (Professional Coin Grading Service - Collectors Universe). 17 July 2000. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Chinese Cast Coins - ANCIENT CHINESE COINAGE - 255 BC TO AD 221". By Robert Kokotailo (Calgary Coin & Antique Gallery – Chinese Cast Coins). 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ ChinaSage.info - History of Chinese Currency. Retrieved: 01 September 2018.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Western Han Wu Zhu". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ F1037, The Study of Wu-Zhu Coin, China (2009). Author: Du Weishan (The son of Du Yuesheng). Publisher: Shanghai Art and Painting Publishing House. (in Mandarin Chinese)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq "Chinese coins –
中國 錢 幣 ". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2018. - ^ Lien-sheng Yang, Money and Credit in China: A Short History, Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series 12 (1952; repr. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971).
- ^ Asianart.com (2020). "Mold for wuzhu coins - Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) - Bronze; H. 22.7 cm, W. 7.7cm, D. 0.9 cm - Excavated from Cangshan - Collection of Shandong Provincial Museum - (cat. #19A)". China Institute Gallery. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Xin Dynasty Shuiyin Gu". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 86.
- ^ Fredrik Schjøth. Chinese Currency. Oslo, 1929
- ^ Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler. Standard Catalog of World Coins.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 91.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Eastern Han Wu Zhu". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Wu Dynasty Coins". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Shu-Han Dynasty Coins". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Wei Dynasty Coins - Wei Dynasty (Three Kingdoms) Coins". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Ancient Chinese Coins: Later Wu Zhu". Content and photographs by Adrian Loder, archives hosted by James Peirce (Kongming's Archives). 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Chinese Cast Coins - A TIME OF DISUNITY". By Robert Kokotailo (Calgary Coin & Antique Gallery – Chinese Cast Coins). 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Peng, Xinwei: A Monetary History of China. vol I. and II. (Translated from the Chinese original Zhongguo Huobi Shi 1965 by Kaplan, Edward H.) 1994 (Western Washington University). Pages: 190-194.
- ^ Peng, Xinwei: A Monetary History of China. vol I. and II. (Translated from the Chinese original Zhongguo Huobi Shi 1965 by Kaplan, Edward H.) 1994 (Western Washington University). Pages: 194-190.
- ^ a b c d e f "Bodhidharma Holding a Wu Zhu Coin". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 1 March 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ a b Peng, Xinwei: A Monetary History of China. vol I. and II. (Translated from the Chinese original Zhongguo Huobi Shi 1965 by Kaplan, Edward H.) 1994 (Western Washington University). Pages: 194-195.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 101.
- ^ "Chinese Cast Coins - MEDIEVAL CHINESE COINS - THE SUI, T'ANG AND POST TANG DYNASTIES". By Robert Kokotailo (Calgary Coin & Antique Gallery – Chinese Cast Coins). 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 91–94.
- ^ François Thierry de Crussol (蒂埃
里 ) (14 September 2015). "Wuzhu五 銖 des Han de l'Ouest西 漢 (1). - Western Han wuzhu (1). - 1-Les junguo wuzhu郡 國 五 銖" (in French). TransAsiart. Retrieved 9 August 2023.En 118 av. J.-C., Wudi
武 帝 interdit la fonte des banliang半 兩 et imposa celle des wuzhu五 銖, pièces devant peser 5 zhu et qui devait être munies d'un rebord interne et externe au revers, ce qui n'était pas le cas des banliang dont le revers était plat. La fonte était autorisée aux princes gouvernant un royaume (guo國 ), aux commanderies (jun郡 ) et bien sûr aux ateliers de l'empereur à Chang'an. - ^ "Wu Zhu, Shang Lin San Guan: CM.185-2015". Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
Shang Lin San Guan: the Three Offices of Shang Lin Park were the Office for Coinage, Office for the Sorting of Copper, and the Office of Price Equalisation.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 85, 91–94.
- ^ The Náprstek museum XINJIANG CAST CASH IN THE COLLECTION OF THE NÁPRSTEK MUSEUM, PRAGUE. by Ondřej Klimeš (ANNALS OF THE NÁPRSTEK MUSEUM 25 • PRAGUE 2004). Retrieved: 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Xinjiang, Qiuzi Kingdom - Bilingual Cash Coins". By Vladimir Belyaev (Chinese Coinage Website - Charm.ru). 11 February 2002. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ Jen, David Chinese Cash: Identification and Price Guide, 340 p, 2000.
- ^ Anything Anywhere - CHINA, coins of that western region called Xinjiang/Sinkiang. - Xinjiang means "new land." Formerly known to westerners as "Chinese Turkestan." Approximately 5000 years of history, not particularly well written up in English and perhaps some of the Chinese studies are somewhat politically/ethnically biased. By Bob Reis. Retrieved: 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Emergence of Chinese Charms - Symbols Begin to Appear on Chinese Coins". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ Museum of Chinese Art and Ethnography ● Parma, Italy ● 0521-257.337 Good Luck Charms. Retrieved: 08 May 2018.
- ^ Yu Jiming - Zhongguo Huaqian Tujian (Illustrated Critical Catalogue of Chinese Charms), 2nd edition (1997). (in Mandarin Chinese)
- ^ Grundmann, Horst - Amulette Chinas und seiner Nachbarländer (2003). (in German)
- ^ Chen, Hong Xi Wan Qian Ji (Curio Coin Collection), 1986 (English translation).
- ^ "Chinese Charms with Coin Inscriptions –
錢 文 錢 。". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2018. - ^ Fang, Alex Chengyu - Chinese Charms: Art, Religion and Folk Belief (2008)
- ^ Cribb, Joseph - Chinese Coin Shaped Charms (1986).
- ^ Edgar J.Mandel. Metal Charms and Amulets of China.
- ^ Sportstune.com – Section 1.9: "Charms with coin inscriptions: Wu Chu" by John Ferguson. Retrieved: 22 August 2018.
- ^ Sportstune.com – Section 1.120: "Charms with coin inscriptions: Shih Chien Wu Chu" by John Ferguson. Retrieved: 22 August 2018.
- ^ Sportstune.com – Section 1.10: "Charms with coin inscriptions: Ch'ang P'ing Wu Chu" by John Ferguson. Retrieved: 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b "
五 铢金钱 -西 汉(公 元 前 202—8年 )-直径 2.6厘 米 - 1980年 陕西咸阳出土 ". National Museum of China (中国 国家 博物 馆) (in Chinese (China)). 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023. - ^ "Exhibition to show the archaeological discoveries in Tuen Mun". The Government of Hong Kong. 18 January 2002. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Han Dynasty Coins Unearthed in Shaanxi". Xinhua News Agency (hosted on China.org.cn). 10 January 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Largest Cache of Ancient Coins Unearthed in Xinjiang Province". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 30 August 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "2,100-year old Coin Manufacture Workshop Ruins Found at Ancient City-site in Inner Mongolia". Chinese Archeology Writer (Chinese Archeology – Institute of Archeology – Chinese Academy of Social Sciences). 9 July 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "3 Tons of Coins Excavated from Ruins of Han Dynasty Mint in Inner Mongolia". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 1 January 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "鄂尔
多 斯发现3500公 斤 西 汉至王 莽时期 古 钱币与钱范。".人民 网>>文化 >>滚动新 闻推荐(时效性 强 新 闻)。 (in Chinese). 31 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2018. - ^ "10 ton Han Dynasty coins found in China". Gila Lunatic (lunaticg). 10 October 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Two million copper coins weighing 10 tonnes found inside 2,000-year-old tomb". by Ian Harvey (The Vintage News). 25 December 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
Sources
edit- Hartill, David (2005). Cast Chinese Coins: A Historical Catalogue. Trafford. ISBN 978-1-4120-5466-9.