A Brief Introduction of China’s Ancient Coinage

Ancient coinage of the world could be classified into two systems - western system and eastern system.

Knife-shaped coin--Pre-Qin period (before 221 BC )

Cast bronze coin dominated ancient Chinese coinage system, which originated in Spring and Autumn Period (8th to 5th centuries BC, an era of great transformation).

Spade-shaped coin--Pre-Qin period (before 221 BC )

The major shapes and features of coins were spade-shaped, knife-shaped, round-shaped and shell-shaped. Qin Dynasty was established in 221 BC. When Qin Emperor the First ascended the throne, he immediately unified the currency to gold and banking coins.

Qin Dynasty standard coins of Qinbanliang (Qin half-tael)

In the pre-Qin Period sea shells, bronze pieces were used as medium for exchange.

In 621 AD Tang Dynasty cast copper coins with characters KAI YUAN TONG BAO, which meant creation of a new era and eliminated any mistakes of weight measure. It set up literally a standard for the coins.

In 9 AD The Han ruler Wang Mang practiced new techniques which were advanced with beautiful workmanship. Knife-coins were inlaid with gold. Round coins were made like jade discs, which were brought into the middle and western area of China. In the year 1886 Governor Zhang Zhidong of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces of Qing Dynasty purchased the complete set of minting machine from Britain which 3 years later sample coins were made which was the start of the machine-mint coins in China.