![]() Subsequent dynasties produced variations on these round coins throughout the imperial period. The beginning of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE), the first dynasty to unify China, saw the introduction of a standardised coinage for the whole Empire. Round metal coins with a round, and then later square hole in the center were first introduced around 350 BCE. The same period also saw the introduction of the first metal coins however, they were not initially round, instead being either knife shaped or spade shaped. These coins, used as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), took the form of imitations of the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonial exchanges. It would have been quite a conversation piece.Ancient Chinese coinage includes some of the earliest known coins. Overall, this is a very interesting souvenir from 19th century China that would have graced a Victorian gentleman’s library. It is open rather than being covered with glass. The practice evolved over thousands of years largely in isolation of outside influence. The golden figurehead of the yacht depicting the couple’s daughter is at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK.Ĭhina was one of the earliest areas in the world to use coinage. She and her husband amassed a large collection of ethnographic and other material from their travels. She died from Malaria aboard the Sunbeam in 1887 at the age of 47. Anna wrote various books about their travels including the best-selling A Voyage in the Sunbeam. Lord Thomas Brassey owned the luxuriously-appointed yacht Sunbeam which he and his wife, the writer Anna Brassey, sailed to many parts of the world. Some of the pieces are more than 2,000 years old.’ One token for example is decorated with a phoenix and a dragon.Īn old typewriter-written label attached to the reverse reads: ‘The Chinese ‘key money’ was brought to England by the Captain of the ‘Sunbeam’ – Lord Brassey’s famous yacht – after the round the world voyage in 1876-7. In addition to coins, there are picturesque tokens which might have served as presentation pieces and also as amulets, These tend to have been cast with pictures as well as script. This is probably one the scarcest and most valuable coins in the collection. Large coin with square hole – yi qian wu fen – dates to the rule of Emperor Shun (1333-68).Mongol Khan coins (13th century) – used by the Mongols before the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty.Kai Yuan coins (618-907AD) – from the Tang Dynasty.Chi Ze Wu Zhu coins (115-113BC) – from the Western Han Dynasty.Ban Liang coins (300-200BC) – from united China’s first dynasty, the Qin Dynasty.Early round coins – (350-220BC) – associated with the State of Liang.Round foot spade coins (4-5th century BC) – associated with either the States of Qin, Zhao or Zong Shan.Pointed foot spade coins (350-250BC) – associated with teh State of Zhou. ![]() Dang Jin-type square foot spade coins (35o-250BC) – believed to have come from the State of Chu.Arched foot spade coins (400-300BC) – these are associated with the State of Liang (also known as Wei).Ming knife coins (400-220BC) – the name ‘Ming’ relates not the the much later dynasty but to a character that appears on the coin.Qi knife coins (400-220BC) – these are from the State of Qi. ![]() Most are probably replicas from the 19th century. The coins have been mounted into cavities carved into the wood. This frame of darkened blond wood holds 43 early coins and tokens, all from China, and mostly purporting to be from China’s Warring States period or more than 2,000 years ago when China was not a unified whole but a series of small kingdoms and fiefdoms, many of which issued their own currency.
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