Item number: A1659

Year: AD 1356-1367

Material: Bronze

Size: 99.4 x 99.4 x 5.2 mm

Weight: 213.25 g

Provenance: Chang Ming-chuan Collection 2010

This is a Tianyou Tongbao coin minted by Zhang Shicheng, who competed for power with Zhu Yuanzhang but ultimately failed to establish his rule at the end of the Yuan dynasty.

This coin is exceptionally large, with a diameter approaching 10 cm and a weight of 213 grams. On the obverse, the four Chinese characters Tianyou Tongbao (天佑通寶) are inscribed in regular script, following the sequence: top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side features a pair of phoenixes facing each other, standing on lotus pedestals on the left and right. Additionally, four smaller phoenixes adorn the upper and lower edges. The motifs on the reverse suggest that this charm coin was likely intended for religious offerings in a temple setting.

Zhang Shicheng was a warlord who rose to prominence in Jiangsu during the late Yuan dynasty. Originally a salt smuggler, he rebelled against oppressive government policies and took up arms. In the 14th year of the Zhizheng era (AD 1354), he established a short-lived state in Gaoyou, naming it Da Zhou and adopting the reign title Tianyou. In the 16th year of Zhizheng (AD 1356), after capturing Suzhou, Zhang Shicheng ordered the destruction of Buddhist temples and had their statues melted down for coinage material. However, he ultimately lost the struggle for power to Zhu Yuanzhang and was executed. After founding the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the recall and destruction of all Tianyou Tongbao coins minted by Zhang Shicheng.

物件編號: A1659

年代: 公元 1356-1367 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 99.4 x 99.4 x 5.2 mm

重量: 213.25 g

來源: 張明泉舊藏 2010

這是一枚元末之際，跟創立明朝的朱元璋競爭天下失敗的張士誠鑄造之「天佑通寶」。

這枚錢幣極為碩大，直徑逼近10公分左右，重量則為213克。錢幣正面按照上、下、右、左順序，依序以漢字楷書鐫刻「天佑通寶」四字。錢幣背面的左右兩側則鐫刻一對相互對視，腳踏在蓮花底座上的鳳凰。上緣和下緣也有總計四隻體態較為嬌小的鳳凰作為裝飾。從錢幣背面的圖騰來看，這一枚花錢具有供奉寺廟的宗教含意。

張士誠是元朝末年發跡於江蘇的梟雄，最早為走私鹽販出身後來不堪官府的壓迫舉兵造反。至正14年 (公元1354年)，張士誠在高郵建國，國號為大周，年號為天佑。至正16年 (公元1356年)，張士誠率兵攻陷蘇州之際，命令屬下摧毀佛寺並將佛像融鑄為錢幣原料。後續張士誠和朱元璋競爭天下失敗遭到殺害，朱元璋建立明朝之後，下令回收和銷毀張士誠鑄造的天佑通寶。