Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Northern Song Dynasty
Zhihe Yuanbao
(Small Regular Script Version)
北宋
至和元寶
(小楷版)
Item number: A950-3
Year: AD 1054-1056
Material: Bronze
Size: 23.5 x 23.7 x 1.2 mm
Weight: 3.6 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
During the Zhihe era (AD 1054–AD 1056) under Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, three types of era coins were minted: “Zhihe Yuanbao,” “Zhihe Tongbao,” and “Zhihe Zhongbao,” with ” Zhihe Yuanbao ” available in three different script styles: Clerical, Regular, and Seal scripts.
This particular coin is an era coin from the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty.
The obverse side of the coin is round with a square central hole, featuring both inner and outer rims, with the outer rim being notably wide and the inner rim narrow.
The inscriptions on the coin read “Zhihe Yuanbao” in Small Regular Script, arranged in a rotating clockwise manner.
The reverse side of the coin is blank, with no denomination or inscriptions, and is almost completely worn smooth.
“Zhihe” was the eighth era name used by Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen, and it signifies the ultimate harmony between heaven and earth.
During Emperor Renzong’s reign, Fan Zhongyan served as the prime minister. During the Qingli period, they attempted to implement the Qingli New Policies, but the effort failed due to overwhelming opposition.
There is also a popular folk tale known as the “The Cat for the Crown Prince” (狸貓換太子), in which the protagonist is Emperor Renzong himself.