The earliest coins were made by Tianhai Haibei.
In the pre-Qin period, it had the dual functions of coins and ornaments. Until the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the minority areas in my country still used shellfish as currency, which was called "ba (left-right structure, left is "bei" and right is "ba")". It is the earliest known currency.
From the 21st century BC to the 2nd century BC, it was mainly used in the Central Plains area, and was gradually replaced by metal currency. The unit was "peng", and every ten coins was "one peng".
Extended information
1. Currency in the Spring and Autumn Period
Kongshoubu: circulated in the Guanluo and Sanjin areas, "Zhou, Zheng, Jin and Wei" Mainly flat-pointed hollow head cloth.
Knife (goods): circulated in the Eastern Qi State, imitating a production tool.
Ant-nosed money: Copper imitation shells circulated in Chu State in the south.
2. Currency during the Qin Dynasty
Gold is named after yi, which is the upper coin; copper coins are named half a tael and are as heavy as their inscriptions, which are the lower coins; and pearls, jade, turtles, shells, silver and tin are It belongs to the treasure of utensils and ornaments, not coins.
3. Currency in the Western Han Dynasty
Three-baht coins, four-baht coins, five-baht coins, leather coins, and platinum coins.
4. Currency in the Eastern Han Dynasty
Iron coins: In 30 AD, Gongsun Shu cast iron coins in Sichuan, the first time in history that iron was used as currency material.
Five baht coin: In 40 AD, Emperor Guangwu proposed from Ma Yuan to restore the five baht coin.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Currency
Baidu Encyclopedia - Natural Sea Shells