Item number: A1717

Year: AD 1075–1084

Material: Bronze

Size: 24.1 x 24.2 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 3.3 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a “Da Kang Tongbao” coin minted during the reign of Emperor Daozong of the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Hongji. It was issued under his third era name, “Da Kang” (AD 1075–1084).

The coin follows the square-holed design modelled after Han Chinese coinage and is covered with an orange-red patina. On the obverse, the four Chinese characters “大康通寶” are inscribed in a clockwise order. The reverse is blank, without any inscriptions or decorative elements.

The Liao Dynasty, also known as the Khitan Empire, was founded by a nomadic people originating from northeastern China. The term “Khitan” (契丹) is also associated with the meaning of “iron.” In AD 907, tribal leader Yelü Abaoji declared the establishment of the Liao state, which rose to dominance over the northern Asian steppes and exerted significant pressure on the Han Chinese regimes to the south. Emperor Daozong, the eighth ruler of the dynasty, reigned for 46 years, during which the empire experienced a decline. Ultimately, in AD 1125, the Liao Dynasty was overthrown by the rising Jurchen forces. The remaining Khitan factions retreated westward to Central Asia, where they established the Western Liao.

物件編號: A1717

年代: 公元 1075–1084 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 24.1 x 24.2 x 1.0 mm

重量: 3.3 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是遼朝第八任皇帝遼道宗耶律洪基，以其使用的第三個年號「大康」(公元1075至1084年) 鑄造的「大康通寶」。

錢幣形制為仿效漢人的方孔錢造型，正面包覆著橘紅色包漿。錢幣正面按順時針順序，依序鐫刻「大康通寶」四個漢字。 錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何文字或是圖案。

遼朝又稱作契丹，為發源於中國東北的遊牧民族部落，契丹一詞又有「鐵」的意思。公元907年，部落首領耶律阿保機宣布建國伊始，遼朝成為北亞草原的霸主並且對於南方的漢人政權構成巨大的壓力。第八任皇帝遼道宗在位期間長達46年，國勢在其任內走上衰敗。最終遼朝於公元1125年遭到新興勢力女真人攻破，殘餘的勢力則向西遁逃至中亞成立西遼。