Item number: A1705

Year: 332-221 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 46.5 x 25.8 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 6.9 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2014

This is a flat-headed, square-foot spade coin from the Warring States period, possibly minted by the State of Wei. The coin exhibits a flat head, raised shoulders, a constricted neck, a slightly tapered waist, square feet, and a flat crotch. Both the obverse and reverse sides are surrounded by a raised rim, though the coin edges are irregular. A vertical line runs from the crotch to the head on both sides of the coin.

The obverse bears the inscription “安昜” (“Anyang”) in large seal script. The strokes are sparse and sharp, with distinct angular turns. Notably, the “宀” radical in the character “安” extends to the outer frame, an uncommon feature. On the reverse, in addition to the central vertical line, there are diagonal lines extending from the neck to the feet on both sides.

Spade coins were a type of spade-shaped currency widely circulated during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in China. Their shape is believed to have originated from agricultural tools, marking them as one of China’s earliest forms of minted currency. Such coins were primarily used within the Zhou royal domain and in the states of Jin, Zheng, Song, and Wei. Early forms of spade coins featured bridge-shaped or pointed feet. Scholars generally agree that square-foot spade coins were first developed by the State of Wei before being adopted by other states. States such as Yan, Zhao, and Qin also minted spade coins, imitating those of the Three Jin states (Jin, Han, and Wei) to facilitate trade and compete for market dominance. Compared with Jin spade coins, Yan spade coins are characterised by deeper neck constriction and coarser casting.

The evolution of spade coins followed a general trajectory: from hollow-headed to flat-headed designs; from wide to narrow shoulders, progressing from flat and raised shoulders to drooping and rounded shoulders; from bridge-shaped and pointed feet to square and rounded feet; and from arched to flat or pointed crotches. Additionally, the coins transitioned from thick and heavy to thin and light.

The circulation of spade coins began to decline following the conquest of the State of Wei by the State of Qin. Their use continued to diminish until their eventual disappearance after the First Emperor of Qin standardised the currency system, replacing regional currencies with the half-liang coin.

物件編號: A1705

年代: 公元前 332-221 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 46.5 x 25.8 x 1.1 mm

重量: 6.9 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2014

這是一枚戰國時期，可能為魏國所鑄之平首方足布。該布幣的形制平首、聳肩、束頸、微束腰、方足、平襠，全幣正反面皆具周廓，幣緣不齊，兩面中央皆有一直紋自襠部上通至首部。

布幣正面幣文為大篆「安昜」，即「安陽」。筆劃疏散銳利，折角明顯，「安」之「宀」已觸及外廓，較為少見。背面除直紋外，兩側另有斜紋自頸部延伸至足部。

布幣為流行於中國春秋戰國時期的鏟型貨幣，形狀應源自農具，為中國最早之鑄幣。主要流行於周王畿以及晉、鄭、宋、魏等諸侯國。初為橋足布、尖足部，而學者認為方足布應為由魏國首先發展，再傳布各國。燕、趙、秦等國為便利貿易或搶占市場，亦曾經仿三晉地區鑄行布幣。與晉布幣相較，燕布幣束頸較深，鑄工較粗。總體而言，布幣的發展大致上是由空首到平首，肩部由寬變窄，從平肩、聳肩變為垂肩、圓肩，由橋足、尖足變為方足、圓足，襠部由弧形變為平直、尖角，由厚重變為輕薄。布幣的流行，可能從魏國為秦國攻滅後逐漸減少，至秦始皇統一貨幣後消失。