Item number: A1921

Year: AD 1234-1236

Material: Bronze

Size: 35.9 x 35.8 x 2.3 mm

Weight: 12.55 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a bronze coin inscribed with “Duanping Tongbao,” named after the third era name used by Emperor Lizong, the fifth emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty.

The coin follows the typical Chinese square-holed format, with a patina of green oxidation covering its surface. On the obverse side, the inscription “Duanping Tongbao” (端平通寶) is arranged in regular script, following the order top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side is plain, without any inscriptions or decorative elements.

During the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty (AD 1224–1264), a total of eight era names were used. In the Duanping period (AD 1234–1236), Lizong formed an alliance with the Mongols, leading to the destruction of the Jin Dynasty, which had controlled northern China. However, Lizong, eager to reclaim the former Northern Song capital of Bianjing (Kaifeng), broke the agreement and launched an attack against the Mongol forces. This failed campaign ultimately led to an all-out war between the Mongols and the Southern Song.

After the Mongol conquest of the Southern Song and the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan’s Tibetan Buddhist confidant, Yang Lianzhenjia, desecrated Emperor Lizong’s tomb and crafted his skull into a ritual kapala bowl. It was only after Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Yuan Dynasty and established the Ming Dynasty that Lizong’s remains were reburied with imperial honours.

物件編號: A1921

年代: 公元 1234-1236 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 35.9 x 35.8 x 2.3 mm

重量: 12.55 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚以南宋第五位皇帝，宋理宗使用的第三個年號作為命名的「端平通寶」青銅錢。

錢幣形制為中國典型的方孔錢，通體為銅綠色的包漿覆蓋。錢幣正面按照上、下、右、左的順序，依序以楷書書法鐫刻漢字「端平通寶」。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何的圖案或是文字。

宋理宗在位期間 (公元1224至1264年)，先後使用過八個年號。宋理宗於端平年間和蒙古結盟，雙方一舉消滅盤據在華北的金朝。然而急於收復北宋舊都汴京的宋理宗又毀約攻擊蒙軍，最終行動失敗也引發蒙古和南宋之間全面的戰爭。蒙古滅亡南宋建立元朝之後，忽必烈的藏傳佛教親信楊璉真珈還盜取宋理宗的陵寢，將其頭骨加工為法器嘎巴拉碗。直到朱元璋推翻元朝建立明朝後，才以皇帝的禮節將宋理宗的頭骨重新下葬。