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Southern Song Dynasty
Shaoxing Yuanbao
(Small Coin & Privately Minted Version)
南宋
紹興元寶
(私鑄版小錢)
Item number: A932
Year: AD 1131-1162
Material: Bronze
Size: 26.7 x 26.8 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 0.8 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a bronze coin minted during the reign of the first emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong, bearing the inscription “Shaoxing Yuanbao,” which corresponds to his second era name. The “Shaoxing Yuanbao” coins are classified into two types based on script style: regular script and seal script. The coin has the typical square-holed design, but due to its age, the surface shows significant wear. This coin weighs only 0.8 g, suggesting it was likely privately minted by civilians.
The coin follows the typical square-holed design. On the obverse side, the Chinese characters “Shaoxing Yuanbao” are inscribed in seal script, arranged in a clockwise order. The reverse side is plain, with no patterns or inscriptions.
Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou, was the ninth son of Emperor Huizong. Originally, he was not in line to ascend the throne. However, in AD 1127, during the Jingkang Incident, the Jurchens of the Jin Dynasty captured the Northern Song capital, Bianjing, and successfully seized both Emperor Huizong and Emperor Qinzong along with many members of the royal family. Zhao Gou, who managed to escape, was supported by court officials to ascend the throne. He later relocated the capital to Lin’an, marking the beginning of the Southern Song Dynasty’s rule.
During the Song Dynasty, in addition to bronze coins, one notable feature was the widespread circulation of iron coins, a phenomenon rarely seen in other dynasties. This practise arose primarily for two reasons: first, the domestic shortage of copper resources; and second, the need to prevent copper coins from flowing into the hands of northern rival states, such as the Western Xia, Liao, and Jin. As a result, the Song court initially began minting iron coins, and later introduced early forms of paper money, such as Jiaozi and Huizi, as alternative currency.