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Northern Song Dynasty
Yuanfeng Tongbao
(Running Script Version 2)
北宋
元豐通寶
(行書三版)
Item number: A1133
Year: AD 1078-1085
Material: Bronze
Size: 25.2 x 25.2 x 1.0 mm
Weight: 3.6 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Yuanfeng Tongbao,” minted during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, the sixth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, using his second era name, “Yuanfeng.” Emperor Shenzong ruled for 18 years and adopted two era names during his reign.
The coin is a typical square-holed coin. On the obverse side, the characters “Yuanfeng Tongbao” are inscribed in running script, arranged in a clockwise order. The reverse side is blank, without any inscriptions or designs, but it is covered by a layer of green patina.
“Yuanfeng Tongbao” coins are categorised into three script styles: clerical script, running script, and seal script, with a massive quantity of coins minted and a wide variety of types. Even within the same calligraphic script, there can still be subtle variations in the coin types.For instance, the script on this coin is quite slender, with the strokes of the character “通” spaced relatively far apart.
Based on weight and size, these coins are further divided into two denominations: the “One-cash,” which weighs between 2.5 and 7.3 g and has a diameter of 22.9 to 26.5 mm, and the “Two-cash,” which weighs between 4.2 and 15 g and has a diameter of 27.1 to 35.5 mm.
In the early years of Emperor Shenzong Zhao Xu’s reign during the Northern Song Dynasty, he faced significant challenges, including an overstaffed bureaucracy and military, as well as the need for increased revenue to fund military campaigns. In response, Shenzong decided to support the reformist faction, known as the “New Policies” group, led by Wang Anshi. However, Wang Anshi’s series of rapid and sweeping reforms caused further domestic unrest and provoked strong opposition from the conservative faction, represented by Sima Guang.
In AD 1084, as Emperor Shenzong lay on his deathbed, he appointed Sima Guang from the conservative faction to serve as regent for the crown prince, effectively acknowledging the failure of Wang Anshi’s reforms. Nonetheless, the conflict between the reformist and conservative factions only intensified in the years that followed.
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.