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Northern Song Dynasty
Xining Chungbao
(Regular Script Version)
北宋
熙寧重寶
(楷書版)
Item number: A813
Year: AD 1068-1077
Material: Bronze
Size: 27.9 x 27.7 x 1.7 mm
Weight: 7.95 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is a “Xining Chungbao,” minted during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, the sixth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, using his first era name, “Yuanfeng.” Emperor Shenzong ruled for 18 years and adopted two era names during his reign.
The coin is in the typical form of a square-holed cash coin, with a green patina covering its surface. On the obverse side, the characters “Xining Chungbao” are inscribed in regular script, arranged in a clockwise order. The reverse side is blank, without any inscriptions or designs.
“Xining Chungbao” coins are categorised into three script styles: clerical script, running script, and seal script. One Xining Chungbao coin was exchangeable for two One-Cash coins.
In the early years of Emperor Shenzong Zhao Xu’s reign during the Northern Song Dynasty, he faced significant challenges, including an overstaffed bureaucracy and military, as well as the need for increased revenue to fund military campaigns. In response, Shenzong decided to support the reformist faction, known as the “New Policies” group, led by Wang Anshi. However, Wang Anshi’s series of rapid and sweeping reforms caused further domestic unrest and provoked strong opposition from the conservative faction, represented by Sima Guang.
In AD 1084, as Emperor Shenzong lay on his deathbed, he appointed Sima Guang from the conservative faction to serve as regent for the crown prince, effectively acknowledging the failure of Wang Anshi’s reforms. Nonetheless, the conflict between the reformist and conservative factions only intensified in the years that followed.
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.