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
Qingli Chungbao
北宋
慶曆重寶
Item number: A803-2
Year: AD 1041-1048
Material: Bronze
Size: 30.1 x 29.1 x 1.8 mm
Weight: 8.3 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Qingli Chungbao” coin, minted at the reign of Emperor Renzong, the fourth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, using his sixth era name. It is notable for being the first coin of the Northern Song Dynasty to bear the name “Chungbao.”
A “Qingli Chungbao” coin could be exchanged for ten one-cash coins. Emperor Renzong, Zhao Zhen, reigned for 41 years, during which he used nine different era names.
The coin follows the typical square-holed design, with a missing portion on the lower outer rim. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Qingli Chungbao” are inscribed in regular script in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side of the coin is plain, without any inscriptions or designs, and it features a prominent green patina.
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.
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.