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Northern Song Dynasty
Yuanyou Tongbao
(Running Script Version)
北宋
元祐通寶
(行書版)
Item number: A760
Year: AD 1086-1093
Material: Bronze
Size: 23.0 x 22.9 x 0.7 mm
Weight: 2.3 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Yuanyou Tongbao” coin minted during the reign of Emperor Zhezong, the seventh emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, using his first era name. Emperor Zhezong ruled for 15 years and adopted three different era names throughout his reign. The “Yuanyou Tongbao” coins were issued in three denominations based on weight: “one-cash,” “two-cash,” and “three-cash.” This coin is of the “one-cash” denomination and is made of bronze.
The coin follows the typical square-holed design. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Yuanyou Tongbao” are inscribed in running script in a clockwise order. It is traditionally believed that the running script was penned by the great literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty, Su Shi. The reverse side of the coin is plain, without any inscriptions or designs, and shows noticeable signs of wear and erosion.
Emperor Zhezong of the Song Dynasty ascended the throne at the age of eight, initially under the regency of his grandmother, Empress Dowager Gao, who ruled from behind a curtain. Empress Dowager Gao favoured the “Old Faction” led by Sima Guang, removing the “New Faction” represented by Wang Anshi, which had been prominent during the reign of Emperor Shenzong. This period of political change is historically referred to as the “Yuanyou Reforms.”
However, in the 8th year of the Yuanyou era (AD 1093), after Empress Dowager Gao passed away and Emperor Zhezong assumed personal control of the government, he became dissatisfied with the dominance of the Old Faction and began to restore members of the New Faction to power. This led to escalating factional conflicts within the Northern Song court and increasing policy confusion, ultimately sowing the seeds for the dynasty’s eventual downfall.
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.