Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Western Han Dynasty,
Wu Zhu
(Upper Ten Version)
西漢
五銖
(上十版)
Item number: A348
Year: 118 BC-AD 9
Material: Bronze
Size: 25.1 x 25.1 x 1.2 mm
Weight: 2.85 g
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This coin is a “Wu Zhu” from the Western Han Dynasty, minted between 118 BC and AD 9. Its weight of only 2.85 grams is significantly below the standard set during Emperor Wu’s reign, which ranged from 3.5 to 4 grams and was regulated by the Shanglin Three Offices bureau. Therefore, it is highly likely that this coin was produced by a later successor or was privately minted at the local level.
The coin has the typical appearance of a square-holed coin, featuring an outer rim that protects the inscriptions, an inner rim with engraved inscriptions, and a central square hole.
On the obverse side of the coin, the inner rim has the characters “Wu Zhu” inscribed in seal script on either side. Additionally, there is a smaller character “Ten” above the main inscription, indicating that this coin was likely not produced according to central government standards. The reverse side of the coin lacks inscriptions and has suffered significant corrosion.
In 206 BCE, when Liu Bang founded the Western Han Dynasty, the “Ban Liang” currency system established by Qin Shi Huang continued to be used. It was not until the 5th year of Emperor Wu of Han’s Yuan Shou era (118 BC) that the “Wu Zhu” were introduced as a new currency. In the 4th year of the Yuan Ding era (113 BC), the central government reclaimed the minting rights from regional and state authorities, permitting only the “Shanglin Three Offices” under central control to produce coins. Thereafter, the denomination, weight, and appearance of the Wu Zhu coins were standardised, remaining in use until the 4th year of Emperor Gaozu of Tang’s Wude era (AD 621), when a new currency system was introduced. The Wu Zhu coin had an indelible impact on the ancient Chinese economic society.