Item number: A287

Year: 475-221 BC

Material: Gold and Bronze

Size: 23.6 x 19.0 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 1.37 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2015

This is a “gold-wrapped shell coin” from the Warring States period, with a bronze base covered with a layer of gold leaf. The obverse of this gold-wrapped shell coin has grooved lines imitating the shell. The reverse side of the shell coin is covered with soil and bronze rust, making it impossible to identify its actual appearance.

Shell coins were the first form of currency used in ancient times, marking humanity’s transition from barter to monetary trade. Archaeological evidence suggests that during the Shang Dynasty, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, shells obtained through trade routes extending from the South China Sea to as far as the Indian Ocean, particularly the Maldives, were used as currency. In addition to natural shells, replicas of shell coins were also made from materials such as clay, stone, jade, and bone. During the late Shang Dynasty, from the 14th to the 11th century BC, bronze shell coins emerged, indicating the advanced development of shell currency in China and even serving as inspiration for Chinese script.

During the Spring and Autumn period, while various states in the Central Plain evolved other metal currencies, bronze shell coins continued to play an important role. With further advancements in metallurgical technology, even during the mid-Spring and Autumn period, there emerged “gold-wrapped shell coins,” where the exterior was covered in gold. Shell coins persisted as currency until the end of the Warring States period before gradually declining in use.

物件編號: A287

年代: 公元前 475-221 年

材料: 黃金，青銅

尺寸: 23.6 x 19.0 x 2.0 mm

重量: 1.37 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2015

這是一枚出土於戰國時期以青銅為基底，外表覆蓋一層金箔的「包金貝幣」。該枚包金貝幣的正面中央有模仿貝殼的凹槽線。貝幣背面則為土壤和青銅鏽蝕包裹，無法辨識其實際的樣貌。

貝幣是上古時期，人類從以物易物演進到貨幣貿易的第一種貨幣。根據考古資料的佐證，位處黃河中游的商朝藉輾轉貿易從南中國海，甚至遠至印度洋的馬爾地夫得到作為貨幣的海貝。除了天然的海貝之外，也出現以陶土、石頭、玉器和骨骼等原料仿製的貝幣。公元前14至11世紀的商朝晚期，更出現以青銅鑄造的貝幣，標示貝幣在中國的高度發展，甚至成為中國文字的創意靈感。

進入春秋時代之際，雖然中原各國演化出其他金屬貨幣，但青銅製的貝幣仍扮演重要地位。甚至隨著冶金工藝的進一步發展，春秋中期出現外表以黃金包裹的「包金貝幣」。最後貝幣持續扮演貨幣直到戰國末期才逐漸式微。