Item number: A116

Year: ND

Material: Bronze

Size: 30.07 x 30.09 mm

Weight: 11.6 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is an undated “Horse Coin” with no actual monetary function, designed in the style of traditional Chinese square-holed coins. The obverse side features the characters “Nie Ying,” which imply swiftness or rapid movement, alongside an image of a galloping horse with its legs extended. The reverse side is smooth and devoid of any images or inscriptions.

These coins, also known as “Dama Coins” or “Dama Grid Coins,” are a type of charm coin. They first appeared during the Tang and Song dynasties, particularly flourishing in the Song dynasty. The Dama game was popular among the people, who used Dama coins as pieces on a Dama game board.

The famous Song dynasty poetess Li Qingzhao provided a detailed description of this game in her writings. According to her, the coins were categorised into two types based on their design: “with horse and general” and “with horse but without general.” However, the specific gameplay and rules of this game have gradually been lost over time.

Flower coins, also known as “Yansheng coins” or “Yasheng coins,” were not formal currency. Initially, they were primarily used for prayers for good fortune and to ward off evil spirits. Over time, their usage became more widespread. These coins were minted from the Western Han Dynasty to the early Republic of China, with a particular abundance and variety during the Qing Dynasty.

物件編號: A116

年代: ND

材料: 銅

尺寸: 30.07 x 30.09 mm

重量: 11.6 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚年代不明的打馬錢，沒有實際的貨幣作用，外觀為中國傳統的方孔錢。錢幣正面寫有「躡影」兩字有飛快的涵義，並且有一隻四腳朝天的駿馬圖案。錢幣背面光滑無任何圖像和文字。

這種錢幣又稱馬錢、打馬格錢，是花錢的一種。最初出現於唐宋時期，尤其是宋代，打馬遊戲在民間興盛，人們以打馬錢作為棋子在打馬圖棋盤上下棋。宋代著名的女詞人李清照，在創作中針對這個遊戲進行詳細描述。李清照按照圖案，將馬錢分為「有馬有將」和「有馬無將」兩種類型，不過這種玩法和其規則也逐漸失傳。

花錢又稱厭勝錢、壓勝錢，非正式流通的貨幣，最初主要用於祈吉、驅邪，而後使用範圍越趨廣泛。從西漢至民初均有鑄造，尤以清代為盛，種類繁多。