Item number: A1259

Year: AD 238-280

Material: Bronze

Size: 32.61 x 32.55 mm

Weight: 9.83 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2016

This is a “Daqian Liangqian” coin minted by the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. The coin is circular with a square hole in the center and a blank reverse side. It shows significant signs of corrosion, but the four characters “Daqian Liangqian” in seal script are still recognizable on the front. It was a large-value coin.

In AD 229, Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the Wu Kingdom. In addition to the circulation of old Han dynasty coins, the Wu Kingdom also minted four types of coins: “Daqian Wubai,” “Daqian Dangqian,” “Daqian Liangqian,” and “Daqian Wuqian.” Among these, “Daqian Wubai” and “Daqian Dangqian” are documented in historical records. However, “Daqian Liangqian” and “Daqian Wuqian” lack historical references, and they are seldom recorded in ancient texts. Nevertheless, their manufacturing technique, script style, and bronze material are similar to those of “Daqian Wubai” and “Daqian Dangqian,” which suggests that they were also minted by the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. The number of “Daqian Liangqian” and “Daqian Wuqian” coins discovered is very limited, making them relatively rare among ancient coins.

The reason for the extremely limited number of “Daqian Liangqian” and “Daqian Wuqian” coins, as well as their near absence in historical or ancient texts, may be related to the situation following the issuance of the “Daqian Dangqian” coin. After the release of “Daqian Dangqian,” its weight gradually decreased significantly, leading to strong public opposition. People refused to use these coins due to their diminishing value, and many stopped trading altogether. In AD 246, the Wu Kingdom abandoned this currency, and the government recalled the circulating coins, melting them down to be recast. Therefore, it is speculated that “Daqian Liangqian” and “Daqian Wuqian” coins may not have been released to the market due to the crisis caused by “Daqian Dangqian,” which is why they are not recorded in historical texts and only a few specimens have survived to the present day.

物件編號: A1259

年代: 公元 238-280 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 32.61 x 32.55 mm

重量: 9.83 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2016

這是一枚三國時期由吳國所鑄造的「大泉兩千」錢幣，錢面呈圓形、方形穿孔、光背，其鏽蝕痕跡較為明顯，然而自錢幣正面依然可辨識旋讀的「大泉兩千」四字篆書，為虛值大錢。

公元229年，孫權稱帝，國號吳。吳國境內除了流通漢代的舊錢以外亦自鑄四種錢幣，分別是「大泉五百」「大泉當千」「大泉兩千」「大泉五千」，其中「大泉五百」及「大泉當千」皆有正史記載。而「大泉兩千」「大泉五千」缺乏歷史記載，舊譜也多無記錄。然而其製作工藝、文字風格及青銅質地與「大泉五百」「大泉當千」相同，因此可推斷是三國時期的吳國所鑄造。「大泉兩千」及「大泉五千」的出土數量甚少，屬於古幣中較罕見者。

若要細究「大泉兩千」及「大泉五千」的數量如此之少，而且幾乎不被正史或舊譜記載的原因，可能與「大泉當千」發行後的情況有關。由於「大泉當千」發行後其重量明顯地逐漸減輕，貨幣重量的劇減造成民眾激烈反對、紛紛罷市，拒絕使用此種虛價大錢，因而在公元246年吳國廢此貨幣，官府將流通市面的貨幣買回，並銷融改鑄器物。因而推斷「大泉兩千」及「大泉五千」可能因「大泉當千」所造成的危機並未上市，所以才不被正史所記載，只留下少數幾枚傳至後世。