Item number: A1721

Year: AD 918-924

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.7 x 23.6 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 4.1 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a “Qiande Yuanbao” bronze coin minted during the reign of Wang Yan, the last ruler of Former Shu, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period following the fall of the Tang Dynasty. It was issued under his second era name, Qiande (AD 918–924).

The coin follows the typical square-holed design. On the obverse, the four characters “乾德元寶” are inscribed in a clockwise order, mimicking the calligraphic style of the Tang Dynasty’s “Kaiyuan Tongbao.” The reverse side is blank, with no additional inscriptions or patterns.

The Former Shu was a short-lived state founded by Wang Jian during the chaotic final years of the Tang Dynasty. Rising from a background as a rogue and salt smuggler, Wang Jian took advantage of the Huang Chao Rebellion to gain military influence and gradually secured control over the Sichuan Basin, with Chengdu as his centre of power. In AD 907, dissatisfied with Zhu Wen’s manipulation of the Tang imperial family, he declared himself king. His reign was marked by peace and extensive hydraulic projects, allowing the local population to prosper. However, after his death, his successor Wang Yan proved to be an incompetent and hedonistic ruler. This weakness led to an invasion by Later Tang, and in AD 925, Former Shu was annexed, ending its 19-year rule.

物件編號: A1721

年代: 公元 918-924 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 23.7 x 23.6 x 1.3 mm

重量: 4.1 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是唐朝滅亡的五代十國豪強割據之際，以四川為根據地的前蜀末代統治者王衍，以使用的第二個年號鑄造的「乾德元寶」青銅錢。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢。錢幣正面按照順時針排序，以漢字鐫刻「乾德元寶」四字，書法模仿唐朝開元通寶的風格。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何圖案或文字。

前蜀為王建在唐朝末年的混亂之際，以四川作為根據地建立的政權。王建出身於無賴和鹽梟，趁著黃巢之亂投身於行伍之中，並且逐漸控制起以成都為中心的四川盆地。公元907年，王建不滿挾持唐皇室的朱溫擺布自立稱王，其在位期間不發動戰事和大興水利，使得四川一地的百姓得以安養生息。然而王建死後，繼位的王衍荒淫無道並且遭到後唐的入侵，最終前蜀於公元925年遭到後唐併吞，立國僅19年。