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Southern Song Dynasty
Jianyan Tongbao
(seal script Version)
南宋 建炎通寶
(篆書版)
Item number: A933
Year: AD 1127-1130
Material: Bronze
Size: 28.5 x 28.6 x 1.8 mm
Weight: 7.75 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin, minted during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song dynasty, is a “Jianyan Tongbao” featuring inscriptions in seal script. The inscriptions on the coin’s surface are partially damaged.
The coin is a typical square-holed coin, with a square hole at the centre of the obverse. The obverse side bears the four characters “Jianyan Tongbao” in seal script, though the inscriptions show signs of erosion, with the characters “Jian” (建) and “Tong” (通) being particularly damaged. The reverse side also has a central square hole, with noticeable black stains on the left and upper areas of the surface. Overall, the coin’s surface condition is uneven on both sides.
The “Jianyan Tongbao” coins were minted during the Jianyan era (AD 1127-AD 1130) of Emperor Gaozong’s reign, a period marked by the transition of power and the Southern migration of the Song court. Despite these upheavals, the minting of coins continued uninterrupted, with many mints remaining active in producing currency. Among the various types of “Jianyan Tongbao” coins, those featuring regular and seal scripts are most common.
Furthermore, extant “Jianyan Tongbao” coins can be categorised into “one cash,” “two cash,” and “three cash,” with “two cash” being the most prevalent among surviving specimens. The denomination of the coins can be distinguished by their size and weight. According to existing data, standard “one cash” coins have a diameter of approximately 25 mm and weigh around 3.5 g; “two cash” coins have a diameter of about 28 mm and weigh around 5.7 g; and “three cash” coins have a diameter of about 30 mm and weigh approximately 9.3 g.
This “Jianyan Tongbao” coin has an approximate diameter of 28 mm and a weight of 7.75 g, which shows a significant deviation from the standard specifications for both “two cash” and “three cash” coins. Due to these discrepancies, it is difficult to determine the exact denomination of this coin, and further evidence is needed to draw a definitive conclusion.