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!
Northern Song Dynasty
Tiansheng Yuanbao
(Diamond Hole & Seal Script Version)
北宋
天聖元寶
(菱孔&篆書版)
Item number: A946
Year: AD 1023-1032
Material: Bronze
Size: 24.7 x 24.6 x 0.9 mm
Weight: 3.1 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Tiansheng Yuanbao” coin, minted at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Renzong, the fourth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, using his first era name. Emperor Renzong, Zhao Zhen, reigned for 41 years, during which he used nine different era names.
The coin is a typical square-holed type, with its surface covered in a layer of green patina. The central square hole is misaligned with the square inner border, resulting in a diamond-shaped opening. On the obverse side, the four characters “Tiansheng Yuanbao” are inscribed in seal script, arranged clockwise. The reverse side of the coin is blank, with no inscriptions or designs.
During Emperor Renzong’s reign, Fan Zhongyan served as the prime minister. During the Qingli period, they attempted to implement the Qingli New Policies, but the effort failed due to overwhelming opposition.
There is also a popular folk tale known as the “The Cat for the Crown Prince” (狸貓換太子), in which the protagonist is Emperor Renzong himself.
During the Song Dynasty, in addition to bronze coins, one notable feature was the widespread circulation of iron coins, a phenomenon rarely seen in other dynasties. This practise arose primarily for two reasons: first, the domestic shortage of copper resources; and second, the need to prevent copper coins from flowing into the hands of northern rival states, such as the Western Xia, Liao, and Jin. As a result, the Song court initially began minting iron coins, and later introduced early forms of paper money, such as Jiaozi and Huizi, as alternative currency.