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Northern Song Dynasty
Songyuan Tongbao
(Leftward Dot)
北宋
宋元通寶
(背左一點)
Item number: A822
Year: AD 960-976
Material: Bronze
Size: 25.0 x 24.9 x 0.8 mm
Weight: 3.0 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin, inscribed with “Songyuan Tongbao,” was minted in the first year of Jianlong (AD 960) by Emperor Taizu, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty. It is the first coin issued by the Song Dynasty.
The coin follows the typical square-holed design, with the upper part of the coin having a circular hole missing. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Songyuan Tongbao” are inscribed in regular script in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The lower character “Yuan” features a distinctive upward stroke towards the left. On the reverse side, there is a dot mark located on the left side.
Emperor Taizu intentionally modelled the calligraphy and design after the Tang Dynasty’s “Kaiyuan Tongbao,” with the aspiration that the “Songyuan Tongbao” would become a coinage standard spanning across different reigns and emperors.
In AD 960, General Zhao Kuangyin, backed by his loyal troops, initiated a coup at Chenqiao, forcing the Northern Zhou royal family to abdicate. Having seized power through military force, Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song Dynasty. To consolidate his rule and prevent future military coups, he implemented the policy of “releasing military power over a cup of wine,” stripping military commanders of their authority. He also promoted the policy of “valuing civil governance over military might,” which, while stabilising internal affairs, ultimately weakened the Song Dynasty’s ability to resist invasions from northern nomadic tribes.
In AD 976, following a private discussion one night with his younger brother Zhao Kuangyi, Emperor Taizu mysteriously passed away the next day. This sudden death led to widespread rumours, known as the “Candlelight and Axe Shadow” legend, suggesting that Emperor Taizu was assassinated by Zhao Kuangyi, who subsequently ascended the throne.
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.