Item number: A852

Year: AD 1008-1016

Material: Bronze

Size: 24.2 x 24.1 x 0.8 mm

Weight: 2.45g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a coin minted during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song dynasty, known as a “reign title coin.”

The obverse of this coin features both an inner and outer rim, with the inscription “Xiangfu Yuanbao” written in running script, read in a clockwise direction. However, the surface has been eroded, making the characters indistinct. The reverse lacks any denomination or inscriptions. Weighing only 2.45 g, this coin is likely a privately minted piece.

The coin’s reign title is “Dazhong Xiangfu,” making it a double reign title coin. It was named after the “Heavenly Script,” a divine document that Emperor Zhenzong received, signifying auspicious omens. Since the “Dazhong” reign title had already been used by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty, no coins could be minted under that name.

As a result, the title “Xiangfu” was divided into two coin types: Tongbao and Yuanbao.

Emperor Zhenzong built an enormous palace complex to house the “Heavenly Script” and even journeyed to Mount Tai for a ceremonial offering. During this period, he traced his ancestry back to “Zhao Xuanlang.”

To avoid the taboo associated with the character “Xuan” in his ancestor’s name, Zhenzong changed the name of the Black Tortoise deity (Xuanwu) to Zhenwu. He also altered Confucius’ posthumous title, changing “Xuansheng” to “Zhisheng” (Ultimate Sage). Most importantly, the emperor’s revered study of “Xuanxue” (Neo-Daoism) was renamed “Lixue” (Neo-Confucianism) due to these naming taboos.

物件編號: A852

年代: 公元 1008-1016 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 24.2 x 24.1 x 0.8 mm

重量: 2.45g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚鑄造於北宋真宗時期的年號錢。該枚錢幣正面有內外廓，錢文為「祥符元寶」四字行書順讀，錢幣正面遭到磨蝕，字跡不甚清楚。背面則無面額、文字。這枚錢幣重量僅2.45克，應為民間私下鑄造。

該枚錢幣的年號為「大中祥符」，為雙年號錢，因宋真宗曾收到有祥瑞之意的「天書」而得名。由於「大中」年號已被唐宣宗使用，不能鑄造相關的年號，於是就只能將「祥符」分為「通寶」與「元寶」製造。

宋真宗曾修建龐大的宮殿群來保管「天書」，還前往泰山封禪，並發現自己的遠祖為「趙玄朗」。真宗為避先祖「玄」字的名諱，將四神之一的「玄武」改成了「真武」；原本給孔子廟號追加「玄聖」的稱號，被改為至聖。最為重要的是，宋真宗最推崇的「玄學」思想，也在避諱的禁忌下被改為了「理學」。