Item number: A886

Year: AD 1107-1110

Material: Bronze

Size: 37.7 x 37.8 x 2.7 mm

Weight: 13.25 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a copper coin from the Northern Song Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Huizong. The coin features a square hole in the centre. On the observe side, the four characters “大觀通寶” (Daguan Tongbao) are arranged from top to bottom, right to left.

“Daguan” was the era name during Emperor Huizong’s reign, signifying the emperor’s aspiration to “observe the grand situation of the world.”

Although the four characters on the observe side have been corroded, their shapes are still discernible. The top character, “大” (Da), is quite recognisable. The right character, “通” (Tong), is also somewhat distinguishable, but the left and bottom characters, “觀” (Guan) and “寶” (Bao), have been severely worn.

The reverse side has no inscriptions, and although there are slight traces of corrosion, the patina is aged and natural.

Due to the weight and size of this coin, being larger and heavier than other coins of the same category, it is referred to as a “large coin.”

Emperor Huizong of Song, whose personal name was Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song Dynasty.

He had a profound interest in tea culture and calligraphy, and he authored a book titled “Treatise on Tea in the Daguan Era,” which describes the tea art of the Song Dynasty, including tea appreciation and tea competitions. This book is the only tea monograph written by a reigning emperor in history.

Emperor Huizong also created the “Slender Gold” style of calligraphy, which he applied to his writings. The Slender Gold style, based on regular script, is characterised by its strong strokes and is considered a precursor to the Song style script.

物件編號: A886

年代: 公元 1107-1110 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 37.7 x 37.8 x 2.7 mm

重量: 13.25 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚北宋，宋徽宗時期的銅幣。銅幣中央為方形孔洞，正面由上到下、由右至左，依序為「大觀通寶」四字。大觀為宋徽宗時期的年號，涵義為皇帝期許自己能「觀天下大勢」。

正面的四字雖已遭繡蝕，但字體形狀仍存，上方的「大」字，十分好辨認。右方的「通」也略能辨識，唯獨左、下的「觀」、「寶」已遭嚴重磨損。

背面無背文，雖表面略有繡跡，但包漿老氣，整體呈現十分自然。

因為這枚銅幣的重量與尺寸，大且重於其他同類別的銅幣，故此被稱為「大錢」。

宋徽宗，本名趙佶，宋朝第八位皇帝，對茶學、書法頗有研究，他曾寫下一本《大觀茶論》，描述宋代人觀茶、品茶，甚至「鬥茶」等茶藝術。《大觀茶論》除了描述宋代飲茶的現象外，更是世上唯一一位由帝王撰寫的茶葉專著。

宋徽宗也自創「瘦金體」，並將之應用於書法上，瘦金體以楷書為本，筆畫剛勁是仿宋體的前身。