Item number: A941

Year: AD 1008-1016

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.7 x 23.7 x 0.8 mm

Weight: 2.75 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This is a Xiangfu Tongbao coin from the Northern Song Dynasty, minted during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong (AD 1008-1016). “Xiangfu” was one of the era names used by Emperor Zhenzong, and the four characters on the coin, Xiangfu Tongbao, are arranged in a regular script. Symbolically, the phrase represents “Auspicious Omens,” reflecting the emperor’s hope for peace and prosperity in the realm.

From a design perspective, this Xiangfu Tongbao coin retains the typical features of Northern Song currency, with a round shape and a square hole in the centre. The square hole was a practical design, allowing coins to be strung together for ease of use.

The coin’s script is finely crafted, exemplifying the minting skills of the Northern Song period and reflecting the economic and cultural prosperity of the time.

The original reign title for this coin was Dazhong Xiangfu, named after Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty received a “heavenly script” believed to be an auspicious sign.

However, since the reign title “Dazhong” had already been used by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, it was not possible to mint coins bearing this title. As a result, the reign title Xiangfu was divided into Tongbao and Yuanbao for minting.

物件編號: A941

年代: 公元 1008-1016 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 23.7 x 23.7 x 0.8 mm

重量: 2.75 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚北宋時期的祥符通寶，鑄造於北宋真宗時期（公元1008-1016年）。「祥符」是宋真宗的年號之一，通寶上的文字「祥符通寶」四字以楷書排列，意義上象徵著「祥瑞符應」，表達了當時皇帝對國家安定、祥和的期盼。

從設計上看，這枚祥符通寶保存了北宋通寶錢幣的典型特徵，為圓形方孔、正面銘文。方孔是便於錢幣串聯和使用的實用設計。

此枚錢幣的字體精美，在工藝上保存了北宋時期錢幣鑄造技術的水準，顯示出當時國家經濟與文化的繁榮。

該枚錢幣所屬的年號原為「大中祥符」，因宋真宗曾收到有祥瑞之意的「天書」而得名。但由於「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。