Item number: A864

Year: AD 1179-1189

Material: Bronze

Size: 25.0 x 25.1 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 3.8 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This coin originates from the Jin Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Shizong, first minted from AD 1179 to AD 1189 according to historical records.

The coin’s obverse is round with a square central hole. Despite some corrosion, the characters “Dading Tongbao” (大定通寶) can still be discerned, written in a slender and vigorous Kaishu script, resembling the Song Dynasty’s imitation Song style.

The reverse of the coin is usually plain, though there are rare specimens bearing the characters “申” or “酉” on the reverse, which are quite uncommon.

Some experts believe these characters represent the Chinese cyclic years, corresponding to the 28th year (Wushen) and the 29th year (Jiyou) of the Dading era. Others suggest that since “申” and “酉” are associated with the element of metal in the Five Elements theory, they were considered auspicious symbols for the nation’s fortune.

“Dading” was the sole reign title used during Emperor Shizong’s reign, lasting for 29 years. The term “Dading” signifies the belief in the unification and stabilization of the empire following the conquest of the Song Dynasty by the Jin Dynasty.

物件編號: A864

年代: 公元 1179-1189 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 25.0 x 25.1 x 1.3 mm

重量: 3.8 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

這是一枚出自金朝世宗時期的年號錢幣，史書記載始鑄於公元1179至1189年。該枚錢幣的正面為圓形，中央為方形穿孔，雖略有鏽蝕，但錢幣文字依稀可見「大定通寶」四字，為楷書，筆畫瘦勁，形如宋代仿宋體。

錢幣背面無字，此幣錢背以無文居多。特別的是，亦有背面鑄有「申」或「酉」字的錢幣，只是為數不多，頗為稀有。有專家認為此二字(申、酉)為地支紀年，即為大定28年（戊申）及大定29年（己酉），也有認為因申酉在五行中屬「金」，而能成為國運祥瑞之物。

「大定」為金世宗在位時期的唯一年號，使用時間長達29年，大定一詞的原意帶有「金朝滅宋，平定天下後復歸統一」的信念。