The Origin of Currency
Currency is the medium of commodity exchange and an inevitable product of the development of commodity production. The well-documented origin of Chinese currency is the "copper shell" from the Shang Tang period. "Before that, in the Xia and Shang Dynasties, bone shells, stone shells, and pottery shells had already begun to circulate. The development of shells from ornaments to currency can be traced back to the Huangdi period. Chinese currency has a history of monetary civilization of four to five thousand years since the use of shells.
The origin of metal currency should be the Yin Shang Dynasty. It was after the Chinese ancestors mastered the technology of smelting metals. Bronze blocks were unearthed in some Yin Shang tombs. These may be the earliest metal currencies.
Early imitation currency was produced after China went through a long period of barter trade. With different regional economies, different tribes used different early currencies. Some controversial bronze wares unearthed today: such as axes, axes, fish, and net-shaped wares, are similar in shape to practical wares but small in size. Some of them are mature. They were unearthed in small batches, and the unearthed tombs all appeared in the Yin and Shang tombs before the Qin Dynasty. Therefore, many researchers of ancient coin collections regard these objects as early Yin Shang currencies.
Pre-Qin currency
During the Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou periods before Qin unified China. Due to the different living environments of each tribe (country), its coinage began after an indefinite period, and its main production tools were used as prototypes. According to research, there are four main origins: people living in forest areas made imitation coins based on sharp tools such as knives, axes, and swords. Depending on the region, these coins have more or less characters or characters based on place names. This practice of naming the place continued until the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. Another major type is the gradually mature trajectory of shovel and cloth profiling casting that lives in agricultural areas. Tribes living in areas with more water on the lake are engaged in hunting and fishing. Their coins are like totems, place names, weights, and so on. In some areas with developed handicraft industries, the currency of the same period showed round coins with square holes or round coins with round holes that were commensurate with their level of civilization. Whether this currency is an imitation of spindles or jade is still a mystery. But it is certain that tribes using round coins are more civilized and developed.
Qin and Han currency
During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods before the Qin unified China, the Chinese ancestors created a coin with a square hole and a round weight that implied a round sky and a round earth. The writing is simple, the calligraphy is written in large seal script, and the half-liang coins of different weights and sizes are now commonly known as Pre-Qin Banliang or Warring States Banliang. After Qin Shihuang unified China. On the basis of the unified balance system, Qin Heng was used as the basis to unify the Qin Banliang. But soon, due to tyranny and huge military spending, the minted currency continued to lose weight.
When Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty started his army, he minted his own money in order to raise money for the army. Qian Wen adopted Qin Banliang's old name. But the actual weight is only about three baht. And the people are allowed to cast it by themselves. Therefore, most of the small seal script banliang, which are thin, small, and have flat characters, are Han banliang. Because the officials and the people minted the coins at different times and in different places, the varieties were so diverse that it was impossible to collect them all. As half a liang of money repeatedly lost weight and its credit was reduced, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty went on a military rampage and the country was short of funds, so he issued light coins to pass on the economic crisis. He first ordered that half a liang of money be struck and minted three baht, and at the same time, white deer skin coins were issued internally (at that time (worth 400,000), and issued three grades of one hundred gold to the outside world, cast with silver and tin. The dragon, horse, and turtle were worth three thousand, five hundred, and three hundred respectively. The undervalued currency was used to plunder people's wealth. Five baht coins were first minted in the fifth year of hunting in the Han Dynasty (AD 18). By the fourth year of Wude, Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty (AD 621), the five-baht coin lasted nearly seven to eight hundred years. It is the currency with the longest minting period in our country. The number left in the world is huge and the categories are diverse.
Currency during Wang Mang's period
Wang Mang has implemented three currency reforms since the second year of Jushe (seventh year AD) and minted exquisite coins that are world-famous. The first time Wang Mang changed his currency, he mainly minted three high-value coins: "Daquan Fifty", "Qidao" and "Cao Dao". The second time (9 AD) he abolished the knife money and banned five baht. There are two kinds of coins, "Daquan Fifty" and "Xiaoquan Zhiyi". Therefore, these two coins are widely circulated to this day. The third reform began in the second year of the founding of the People's Republic of China (10 AD), and the treasure goods system was implemented. There are five items in the area (gold, silver, copper, turtles, and shells), six items (ink items, shell items, cloth items, turtle treasures, silver items, and gold), and twenty-eight items.
Although the money system is chaotic, the quality of his money making is at its peak, so Wang Mang is known as the number one money making master. Wang Mang's money calligraphy uses hanging money seals, and the money he casts, whether it is round coins, cloth coins, or knife coins, has a tall and straight outline, so it protects the writing very well, making the coins that have been handed down so popular that everyone can't bear to let go of them.
Currency of the Three Kingdoms
Wei, Shu, and Wu were known as the Three Kingdoms in history. The currency system during this period was complex, coupled with the raging wars and unknown historical records, it is now classified as the currency of the Three Kingdoms period. The place where it was minted When cast together, it is difficult to decompose.
During the Three Kingdoms period, the money systems in different regions were different;
Wei got five baht
In addition to the five baht cast in Shu, there were also five bahts cast in straight hundred.< /p>
Wu has five hundred large springs, one thousand large springs, two thousand large springs, five thousand large springs, etc.
There are also Taiping 100 coins and Dingping 100 coins. When Zhujian returned to the Three Kingdoms, Taiping 100 coins were minted by Yue Lian, the governor of Yizhou, and Dingping 100 coins may also have been minted by Shu.
Currency in the Two Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties
Historical books do not mention anything about coinage in the Western Jin Dynasty. Five baht coins were mainly used at that time. When the Western Jin Dynasty unified China, the treasury was abundant and the national power was strong. Therefore, in addition to using the old money of the Han Dynasty, they should mint their own money. To this day, it is not easy to distinguish between Wei and Jin baht.
At the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, after the Eight Kings Rebellion, each ethnic minority group conducted its own affairs, and many even minted their own money.
Li Te, Li Liu and others, the leaders of the Ba ethnic group, founded the Han Dynasty in Sichuan and cast "Han Xing", which was the first currency named after an era name in the history of our country.
Shi Le replaced the Huns and established the former Zhao Dynasty and established himself as king. It was called the Later Zhao Dynasty in history and created "fenghuo".
Zhang Gui casts "Liang creates a new spring" in Qianliang.
During the Southern Dynasties, it became popular to cut the old Han five baht into small coins, and to mint them privately. Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty cast four baht in the seventh year of Yuanjia (430 AD). Little has been passed down, and later it was recast as Xiaojian Si Baht. The writing on this spring is slender, and the seal writing is flying, like dancing sleeves, which is very beautiful. In 465 AD, Yongguang was cast again. A few months later, it was changed to Yuan Jinghe, and Jinghe was cast again. Two coins are extremely rare in the world.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, two types of five-baht coins were mainly cast, those with wheels and those without wheels. Among them, those without wheels were called "female coins". After Emperor Liang Yuan moved the capital to Jiangling, he recast it as "two pillars and five baht" for the tenth year. In the second year of Taiping, Emperor Jing of Liang recast it as "four pillars and five baht" for the twenties. Both are now rare. During the Tianjia period, Emperor Chen Wen cast large-scale five-baht coins to resist small coins, and one was equivalent to ten. Emperor Chen Xuan cast Taihe five-baht coins. The seal characters of this spring are well-proportioned and magnificent, and the production is exquisite. It ranks first among the springs in the Southern Dynasties. The Western Wei Dynasty cast Yong'an five baht, the Northern Zhou Dynasty cast Yongtong Wanguo, the five elements cloth, and the spring. These three spring products are commonly known as "Northern Three Baht" with exquisite calligraphy and excellent casters. It is another pinnacle of money casting after Wang Mang.
Currency of the Sui and Tang Dynasties
After Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty defeated the Chen Dynasty, the five baht in the Sui Dynasty became the unified legal tender. The character "五" in the five baht in the Sui Dynasty has an extra one on the left and a vertical character like "fierce". are common.
In the early Tang Dynasty, the old money of the Sui Dynasty was still used. In the fourth year of Wude (621 AD), Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty ordered that the five baht be abolished and Yuan Tongbao be minted. This ended the history of the two baht currencies in our country and entered the world. Baowen currency.
The four-character money inscription "Kaiyuan Tongbao" was composed and written by the calligrapher Ouyang Xun. The text is dignified and dignified, showing the prosperous and peaceful style of the Tang Dynasty.
"Kaiyuan Tongbao" has been minted for more than 200 years in the Tang Dynasty. The price has been stable with minimal changes, and merchants and people are happy to use it. The money is still in use in the late Qing Dynasty, and it is also one of the longevity stars of coins. Kaiyuan The amount of money minted is huge, and it is widely circulated today with many editions.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty (the first year of Qianfeng (666 AD)), due to the growing trend of extravagance and the surge in military expenditures, the Qianfeng Quanbao was recast so that one could be used as ten. However, the merchants rejected it and a year later it was Casting was forced to stop, so few were handed down.
During the Anshi Rebellion, Shi Siming took control of the eastern capital and cast Shuntian. He got a large sum of money, which was worth one hundred. As the saying goes, "It's easy to get what you want, but it's hard to find one."
After the Anshi Rebellion, the economy of the Tang Dynasty was severely damaged. In order to pay for military expenses, Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty cast a new Qianyuan heavy treasure in the first year of Qianyuan, one for ten, then one for five, one for three, and finally One by one, go with Kaiyuan. This is the beginning of Qian Wenzhong's heavy treasure money. Qianyuan coins were minted from Suzong to the end of the Tang Dynasty, so they were widely circulated and the formats were complex.
Dali Yuanbao was cast during the Dali period of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty (766-779 AD)
Jianzhong Tongbao was cast during the Jianzhong period of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty (780-783 AD)
This Erquan is often unearthed in Xinjiang.
In the fifth year of Huichang (845 AD) of Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, the number of Buddhist temples in the world was reduced, and copper materials from abandoned temples were collected to cast coins. Li Shen, the governor of Yangzhou, added the word "Chang" after the new coins to mark the year. Therefore, all the foundries in each state are written with the names of the counties in the state. Currently, Chang, Jing, Luo, Yi, Jing, Xiang, Lan, Yue, Xuan, Hong, Tan, Yan, Run, E, Ping, Xing, Liang, and Guang There are 23 species including Catalpa, Fu, Gui, Dan, and Yong.
In the eleventh year of Xiantong (AD 870), Emperor Yizong of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Tong, the supervisor of Guiyang, cast a new "Xantong Xuanbao." However, the spring was discontinued soon, so it is extremely rare to be handed down and unearthed.
The currency of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
In 907 AD, Zhu Wen destroyed the Tang Dynasty and established the Later Liang Dynasty, which began the chaotic and separatist Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms situation in our country's history.
Zhu Wen destroyed the Tang Dynasty, changed the name of the country to Liang, moved the capital to Bianjing, and Jianyuan Kaiping. There are one Kaiping Yuanbao and Kaiping Tongbao handed down from ancient times.
Li Siyuan of the Later Tang Dynasty cast Tiancheng Yuanbao during the Tiancheng period (AD 926-930), imitating the Kaiyuan Yuanbao, but not as exquisite as it was.
In the third year of Tianfu in the Later Jin Dynasty (AD 938), due to insufficient loans and lack of finances, copper coins were minted with Tianfu Yuanbao as the inscription. Today, most Tianfu Yuanbao is cast privately and is of poor quality.
The money cast in the Later Han Dynasty was renamed "Han Yuan Tong Bao", and its shape was exactly like that of Kai Yuan, except for the character "Han". Therefore, it was actually a modified type of money. Rare in existence.
In the second year of Chai Rong's Xiande reign (955), Guo Wei, the Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty, built Yuan Guangshun (951-953), destroyed 3336 temples in the world, and cast copper into "Zhou Yuan Tong Bao".
During the wars of the Five Dynasties, vassal towns all over the country established themselves one after another. They established names and cast money to use it for financial purposes. They cast Yongping, Tongzheng, Tianhan, Guangtian, Qiande, Xiande, Guangzheng, and Dashu. etc., many only remain as orphans.
In the Southern Tang Dynasty, Xu Zhihao founded Daqi in 937 AD and cast "Daqi Tongbao", only two of which were in the world. Later it was renamed "Datang". He cast Baoda and Yongtong Quandai. Tang Tongbao is rare in the world.
Chu Mayin occupied the land of Xiangchu and cast copper and iron coins of Tiance Fubao, lead and iron coins of Qianfeng Quanbao, large iron coins of Qianyuan Chongbao, small copper coins, Kaiyuan copper coins, etc.
The Southern Han Dynasty once cast Qianheng Chongbao lead and iron coins and Qianheng Tongbao copper coins, the latter of which are extremely rare.
During this period, the Fujian Wang family's regime cast Kaiyuan's "Min" large and small lead coins and Yonglong Tongbao lead and iron coins. Tiande Chongbao copper and iron coins were also cast by the King of Fujian.
Looking at the currencies of the Five Dynasties and Ten Countries, lead and iron were the main ones, with more bad coins and rare fine coins, reflecting the political turmoil, economic depression and people's poverty at that time.
Two Song Currencies
Zhao Kuangyin's "Chenqiao Mutiny" established the Song Dynasty. Since then, China has restored a basically unified situation, the people have been able to recuperate, and the economy has obviously recovered.
The currency system of the two Song Dynasties was mainly copper coins, but also made of iron and lead. Silver and silver coins were more important in payments and purchases than in previous dynasties. Paper money began to be formally produced and implemented, which was the biggest feature of the currency system during the Song Dynasty.
The copper and iron coins of the Southern and Northern Song Dynasties are obviously different. The Northern Song Dynasty has more copper coins and less iron coins, while the Southern Song Dynasty has more iron coins and less copper coins. The copper coins of the Northern Song Dynasty had more small coins but less big coins. The copper coins of the Southern Song Dynasty had fewer small coins and more big coins. The Northern Song Dynasty used the year number as the coin text, while the Southern Song Dynasty not only used the year name as the coin text, but also had the year and discipline. The biggest difference between the coins of the two Song Dynasties and the previous ones is the money calligraphy, many of which were written by emperors of various dynasties or by calligraphers. Zhenxing, Li, Zhuan, Zhuan and Cao are all available. It is the pinnacle of my country's currency calligraphy art.
The Northern Song Dynasty began with Taizu of the Song Dynasty and went through nine dynasties including Taizu, Taizong, Zhenzong, Renzong, Yingzong, Shenzong, Zhezong, Weizong and Qinzong, which lasted 168 years. Chunhua, Zhidao, Xianping, Tiansheng, Mingdao, Jingyou, Huangsong, Kangding, Qingli, Zhihe, Jiayou, Zhiping, Xining, Yuanyou, Shaosheng, Yuanfeng, Yuanfu, Shengsong, Twenty-six kinds of currencies, including Chongning, Daguan, Zhenghe, Chonghe, Xuanhe, and Jingkang, inherited the legacy of the Northern Song Dynasty at the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty. There were several calligraphy styles for money, and they were in pairs. After that, they were basically in calligraphy style. There are few changes, but the chronology and discipline supervision are increased, and the quality of the coins is getting lower and lower, and rough coins and big coins appear from time to time.
The Southern Song Dynasty went through Gaozong, Xiaozong, Guangzong, Ningzong, Lizong, Duzong and other dynasties, which lasted for 153 years, and included Jianyan, Shaoxing, Longxing, Qiandao, Chunxi, Shaoxi, Qing Copper and iron coins with nineteen year titles including Yuan, Jiaping, Kaixi, Jiading, Song Dynasty, Shaoding, Duanping, Jiaxi, Chunyou, Huangsong, Kaiqing, Jingding and Xianchun.
Currency of the Yuan Dynasty
When the Mongols ruled China, they brought about a basic change in China's currency system, which caused China to use white money as the measure of value. If China's currency system is divided by quality, the Tang Dynasty was the dividing line for copper coins, and the currency after the Tang Dynasty was baht. In the past nomadic period, the Mongols mainly used barter methods. The adoption of the white money system was mainly influenced by foreign ethnic groups in neighboring Central Asia and was also a product of foreign trade. Before the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, Mongolia had begun to mint Chinese currency, such as "Da Chao Tong Bao" and copper coins.
After gaining control of China, paper money was the main currency, but many copper and silver auxiliary coins were also minted. After the Yuan Dynasty, many copper coins in Chinese, Mongolian or Mongolian-Chinese were minted. There are Yuanbao and Tongbao copper coins such as Zhiyuan, Yuanzhen, Dade, Zhida, Huangqing, Yanyou, Zhiye, Pingding, Zhishun, Yuantong, and Zhizheng, except those of Zhida, Zhizheng, and Mongolian Dayuan. Except, the other ones are very few in number and hard to come across.
Currency of the Ming Dynasty
At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, various heroes came together to govern their own affairs and mint their own currency, just like the government of one dynasty. However, these governments were short-lived, and the minted currency also appeared for a while. All ministers went to the Zhu family in the Ming Dynasty.
At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhang Shicheng took control of Gaoyou and named it Dazhou. In the 13th year of the Zhizheng period, he changed it to Tianyou of the Yuan Dynasty, destroyed the bronze Buddha and cast Tianyou Tongbao.
Xu Shouhui cast the Apocalypse, and the two coins were determined by heaven.
After Youliang killed Xu Shouhui, he changed the Yuan Dynasty to Dayi and cast Dayi Tongbao.
After Zhu Yuanzhang raised his army, he cast Dazhong Tongbao.
The above coins, except for large and medium coins, are extremely rare. The currency system of the Ming Dynasty was mainly paper money, but many copper coins were also minted in various categories. Zhu's coinage began in Dazhong and began to memorize cultural and geographical values. This was a feature of copper coins in the Ming Dynasty and continued to influence coinage in the late Qing Dynasty. Moreover, the coins of the Ming Dynasty, contrary to those of the previous dynasty, were all Tongbao and not Yuanbao, mainly to avoid Zhu Yuanzhang's taboo of the word "Yuan".
Since Hongwu, Yongle, Xuande, Hongzhi, Jiajing, Longqing, Wanli, Pingchang, Tianqi, Chongzhen and other currencies were minted.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the princes were granted the title of king, and each ruled their own affairs. The self-minted currency showed a twilight scene.
King Lu founded the Ming Dynasty, and King Fu created Hongguang in Nanjing. The king of Tang Dynasty cast Longwu in Fuzhou, and King Yongming changed Yuan Dynasty to Yongli in Zhaoqing and cast Yongli Tongbao. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong dominated the north and south, accelerating the demise of the Ming Dynasty. When Li Zicheng became king in Xi'an, he cast Yongchang Tongbao. Zhang Xianzhong ascended the throne in Chengdu, changed the Yuan Dynasty to Dashun, and cast Dashun Tongbao. Zhang Xianzhongyi's descendants are expected to enter Yunnan and Guizhou, be called the King of Dongping, and cast Tongbao.
In 1674, Wu Sangui cast Utilization Tongbao, and Geng Jingzhong cast Yumin Tongbao in Fujian; in 1678, Wu Sangui cast Zhaowu Tongbao; and Wu Shifan cast Honghua Tongbao.
Qing Dynasty Currency
The currency system of the Qing Dynasty was generally based on the parallel standard of silver money; money was used for large numbers and money was used for decimals, and the price ratio between silver and copper was generally maintained at one thousand taels per thousand. up and down.
The Manchus began to mint money before they entered the customs. Nurhaci founded the country and proclaimed himself emperor in the 44th year of Wanli Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1616 AD); the reign name was Tianming, and he minted Tianming coins in Chinese and Manchu. Since then, coins have been cast under common names, and hundreds of millions of coins have been cast since Shunzhi, Tangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu and Xuantong. Another feature of Qing Qian is that although the money inscriptions on the front are the same, the Manchu characters on the back distinguish the casting bureaus from different places. Due to different times, places, copper materials and techniques, there are different quantities and complex editions. The third characteristic of Qing Qian is that due to the recent era, there are fewer burials. Most of them have been passed down to the world, but after decades They are sold off year by year, collected, and the number is getting smaller and smaller. Unlike the coins of the Tang and Song Dynasties, which are unearthed from time to time, in recent years, clear coins have become increasingly valued by collectors.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, due to the corruption of the Qing court, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom uprising broke out. The coins minted by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom rebels can be seen from time to time. However, due to different periods and different casting places, many rare editions can only be seen. Tuo Xing sighed. The distinctive features of the coins of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom are (1) The coins are called "holy treasures", which are different from the coins of previous dynasties. (2) There are no markings of place, value and weight on the coins. (3) Qian's text is divided into two sides: front and back.