Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Tang Dyn. - Emperor Su Zong - 10 Cash

Moneta — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:46:22 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Obverse legend: Qian Yuan zhong bao. Ten Cash. These larger coins were issued to pay the army fighting against rebels. The first coins issued, like this one, were in 758 - 759 A.D.; valued at an equivalent of 10 ordinary cash while not nearly equal in weight to 10 individual cash coins. Each coin weighs 1.6 gian (~ 7 grams), this one is 30 mm and 7.69 g. Hartill H14.101, reverse plain. FD691, S352.

Tang Dyn. Kai Yuan Tong Boa H14.4a

Moneta — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:32:32 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Tang Dynasty Cash - anonymous Middle type with a high left shoulder in 'yuan' (718 - 732 A.D.). Reverse is the flat line above the hole. Its 25 mm and 4.27 g. David Hartill H14.4a Kai Yuan tong bao (The Inaugural Currency), these were the main coin cast for the dynasty, a period of nearly 300 years and a high point in Chinese history and culture. The legend was written by the famous calligrapher Ouyang Xun in a mixture of styles known as 'bafen' and 'Li' and looks like official or clerkly style writing. It is the first coin to use the term 'tong bao.' The execution of this coins was so admired that it served a a model to be emulated over many regimes and over later periods. Kai Yuan tong bao characters are read: top, bottom, right, left. These coins are said to be struck from the begining of Huichang's era in 841 (used from the melted materials of destroyed Buddhist monasteries), to late 841, when the 'Chang' was to be replaced by a mintmark. The only confirmed mint is Yangzhou (they were the original ones to get permission to cast these), but seeing how common these are, there are two possibilities: 1) 'Chang' was used posthumously as a mintmark for Yangzhou, which does not have its own type with a mintmark, or 2) the 'Chang' was adopted by other mints. The latter seems quite likely, where as the former is still possible (while the other mints changed mintmarks, Yangzhou could have retained the 'Chang').

Tang Dyn. Kai Yuan Tong Bao - H14.4u

Moneta — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:26:43 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Tang Dynasty Cash - anonymous Middle type with a high left shoulder in 'yuan' (718 - 732 A.D.). Reverse is the 'U' type crescent above the hole. It's 25 mm and 4.05 g. David Hartill H14.4u Kai Yuan tong bao (The Inaugural Currency), these were the main coin cast for the dynasty, a period of nearly 300 years and a high point in Chinese history and culture. The legend was written by the famous calligrapher Ouyang Xun in a mixture of styles known as 'bafen' and 'Li' and looks like official or clerkly style writing. It is the first coin to use the term 'tong bao.' The execution of these coins was so admired that it served a model to be emulated over many regimes and over later periods. Kai Yuan tong bao characters are read: top, bottom, right, left. These coins are said to be struck from the begining of Huichang's era in 841 (used from the melted materials of destroyed Buddhist monasteries), to late 841, when the 'Chang' was to be replaced by a mintmark. The only confirmed mint is Yangzhou (they were the original ones to get permission to cast these), but seeing how common these are, there are two possibilities: 1) 'Chang' was used posthumously as a mintmark for Yangzhou, which does not have its own type with a mintmark, or 2) the 'Chang' was adopted by other mints. The latter seems quite likely, where as the former is still possible (while the other mints changed mintmarks, Yangzhou could have retained the 'Chang').

Tang Dyn. - Kai Yuan Tong Bao - H14.4v

Moneta — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:14:46 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Tang Dynasty Cash - anonymous Middle type with a high left shoulder in 'yuan' (718 - 732 A.D.). Reverse is the up-side down 'U' type crescent above the hole. It's 25 mm and 4.27 g. David Hartill H14.4v Kai Yuan tong bao (The Inaugural Currency), these were the main coin cast for the dynasty, a period of nearly 300 years and a high point in Chinese history and culture. The legend was written by the famous calligrapher Ouyang Xun in a mixture of styles known as 'bafen' and 'Li' and looks like official or clerkly style writing. It is the first coin to use the term 'tong bao.' The execution of these coins was so admired that it served a model to be emulated over many regimes and over later periods. Kai Yuan tong bao characters are read: top, bottom, right, left. These coins are said to be struck from the begining of Huichang's era in 841 (used from the melted materials of destroyed Buddhist monasteries), to late 841, when the 'Chang' was to be replaced by a mintmark. The only confirmed mint is Yangzhou (they were the original ones to get permission to cast these), but seeing how common these are, there are two possibilities: 1) 'Chang' was used posthumously as a mintmark for Yangzhou, which does not have its own type with a mintmark, or 2) the 'Chang' was adopted by other mints. The latter seems quite likely, where as the former is still possible (while the other mints changed mintmarks, Yangzhou could have retained the 'Chang').

KAI YUAN TB - LateType

Chinacash — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:46:56 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Tang Dynasty (618-907) Kai Yuan Tong Bao 1 cash. Late type cast 732-907. Hartill 14.8 Diam 25.1mm 3.8g

KAI YUAN TB - Early Type

Chinacash — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:45:02 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Tang Dynasty (618-907) Kai Yuan Tong Bao 1 cash. Early type cast 621-718. Hartill 14.1 Diam 24.4mm 4.0g

Huichang Kai Yuan (Jingzhao))

Chinacash — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:55:22 -0400

Huichang Kai Yuan (Jiangsu)

Chinacash — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:50:25 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Huichang Kai Yuans (845-46) Kai Yuan Tong Bao Reverse: Run above A region in Jiangsu Diam: 23.3mm, 2.9g Hartill 14.81

Huichang Kai Yuan (Luoyang)

Chinacash — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:06:06 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Huichang Kai Yuans (845-46) Kai Yuan Tong Bao Reverse: Luo above Luoyang (the capital) in Henan Diam: 24.4mm, 3.6g Hartill 14.77

TANG QIAN YUAN ZHONG BAO

Chinacash — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:00:19 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Emperor Su Zong (756-62) Qian Yuan Zhong Bao cast 756-62 Reverse: Crescent below Diam: 25.2mm, 3.6g Hartill 14.116

S. TANG KAI YUAN TB

Chinacash — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:35:16 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Southern Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Yu (961-978) Kai Yuan Tong Bao Li script Diam: 25.0mm, 3.7g Hartill 15.101 Can be distinguished from earlier Kai Yuans by its broader rims and the characters being in less deep relief.

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S. TANG KAI YUAN TB

Chinacash — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:21:11 -0400

by: Chinacash

Description: Southern Tang Dynasty Emperor Li Yu (961-78) Kai Yuan Tong Bao Seal script Diam: 25.2mm, 3.8g Hartill 15.99 Calligraphy said to be by the scholar Xu Xuan

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TANG Qian Yuan Zhong Bao

Chinacash — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:30:19 -0500

by: Chinacash

Description: Emperor Su Zong (756-62) Qian Yuan Zhong Bao 1 cash cast 759-62 Diam: 23.3mm, 2.8g Hartill 14.114

Kai Yuan Tong Bao

Chinacash — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:58:31 -0500

by: Chinacash

Description: Tang Dynasty (618-907) Kai Yuan Tong Bao 1 cash. Middle type cast 718-32. Hartill 14.4z (the z indicates position of the small crescent or nail mark on the reverse) Diam 25.0mm 4.3g Unusually, the top stroke of the Yuan is joined to the lower part of the character. This does not appear to be accidental. Neither Hartill nor Schjoth list such a variety, but I believe the coin to be genuine. Has anyone seen another example?

2 comments