Item number: A1080

Year: AD 1204-1208

Material: Bronze

Size: 39.9 x 40.0 x 3.2 mm

Weight: 21.5 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a coin from the reign of Emperor Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty, known as a “Conjoined inscription coin.” The obverse side of the coin reads “Taihe Chongbao” (泰和重寶) from top to bottom and right to left, written in seal script, with a square hole in the centre.

Although the reverse side of the coin is rusted, it still clearly shows the characters “泰和重寶” identical to those on the obverse.

The era name “Taihe” was the third era name used by Emperor Zhangzong and was in use for nine years. “Taihe” signifies auspiciousness, peace, and harmony.

Among the people, the Taihe Chongbao coin is renowned as one of the “Four Rarities,” with the other three being coins from the Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang, coins from Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, and large coins from the reign of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty.

When Emperor Zhangzong Wanyan Jing, the sixth emperor of the Jin Dynasty, ascended to the throne, the dynasty had been established for seventy years and was enjoying a period of peace and stability.

During his reign, Zhangzong was diligent and competent, achieving the “Reign of Mingchang.” Additionally, he greatly promoted culture and had high cultural accomplishments himself, mastering calligraphy, particularly the slender gold script style of Song Emperor Huizong.

However, in the later years of his reign, he neglected state affairs, spending his days drinking and composing poetry with poets. While he promoted cultural development, the national power gradually declined, contributing to the eventual downfall of the Jin Dynasty.

物件編號: A1080

年代: 公元 1204-1208 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 39.9 x 40.0 x 3.2 mm

重量: 21.5 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚金朝章宗時期的合背幣。錢幣正面由上至下、由左至右讀「泰和重寶」四字，為篆書，中央為方形孔洞。錢幣背面雖有鏽蝕，但仍然能看出是「泰和重寶」四字，其形制和正面完全一模一樣。

年號「泰和」，是金章宗使用的第三個年號，一共使用九年。泰和代表著吉利、安泰和順等涵義。在民間，泰和重寶有著「四絕」之名，其餘三絕為：漢新莽錢幣、宋徽宗錢幣和清咸豐大錢。

金朝第六位皇帝—金章宗完顏璟即位時，金朝已立國七十年，承平有時。章宗於在位期間，勵精圖治，有「明昌之治」的政績。

此外，他也大力發展文化，章宗自身有很高的文化造詣，寫得一手好字，深得宋徽宗瘦金體的精隨。

然而，後期的他卻不思朝政，整日與詩人飲酒作詩。在推廣文化發展的同時，國力也慢慢開始衰敗，為日後金朝覆亡的遠因。