Item number: A1245

Year: 308-296 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 144.1 x 15.9 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 11.85 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2016

This coin, based on its shape, is likely a “Cheng Bai” Knife Money that circulated in the Zhongshan State during the Warring States period. Knife money was a type of currency used during this period, primarily in the northern and eastern vassal states, including Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Zhongshan.

This knife coin is covered with indigo and green patina. It has a straight shape with minimal curvature, featuring a rounded blade edge and a circular hole at the end for stringing multiple coins together. The central section would typically display an inscription indicating the mint location; however, due to the coin’s age, the inscription has been worn away or obscured by copper corrosion. Consequently, the identification of this piece as a “Cheng Bai” knife coin—widely circulated in the Zhongshan State—relies on comparisons with archaeological data and its general form.

The Zhongshan State shared a southern border with Zhao, and the two states maintained close cultural and economic ties. As a result, the knife coins from Zhongshan bear a strong resemblance to those from Zhao in design and structure.

The Zhongshan State was a kingdom established by the nomadic Xianyu people in the Taihang Mountains region of modern-day Hebei Province during the Warring States period. Its territory was situated between the states of Yan and Zhao. According to historical records, the founding of Zhongshan dates to 507 BC.

Zhongshan reached its zenith in 323 BC during the “Proclaiming Kings” alliance (五國相王) between the states of Wei, Han, Zhao, Yan, and Zhongshan, when these states collectively challenged the authority of the Zhou king by recognising each other as kings. However, the state’s dominance ended in 296 BC when it was conquered by King Wuling of Zhao, marking the collapse of Zhongshan after more than 200 years of existence.

物件編號: A1245

年代: 公元前 308-296 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 144.1 x 15.9 x 1.2 mm

重量: 11.85 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2016

這是一枚從形制作為判斷，疑似為戰國時期在中山國流通之「成白」刀幣。刀幣為戰國時期，流通於燕、齊、趙和中山國等，地處北方和東方的諸侯國。

這枚刀幣為靛藍和青綠色的包漿所覆蓋，型態十分筆直且曲徑不明顯，刀刃部位較為圓潤，末端有串聯錢幣的圓孔。中央理當有辨識鑄造地的銘文，然而由於年代久遠，銘文已經遭到磨蝕或遭銅鏽覆蓋，故僅得從形制和考古資料對比，可能是廣為在中山國流通的「成白」刀幣。中山國的南方比鄰趙國，兩國在文化和經濟上有著密切交流，因此中山國刀幣在形制上跟趙國極為相似。

中山國為戰國時期，游牧民族鮮虞在今日河北省太行山一帶成立的國家，其領土夾在燕國和趙國之間。根據史料的記載，中山國大致成立於公元前507年。國勢在公元前323年，中山國和魏、韓、趙、燕進行「五國相王」，僭越周天子權威互相承認為王侯之際達到巔峰。然而公元前296年，中山國在趙武靈王攻伐之下亡國，結束其兩百多年的歷史。