Item number: A1940

Year: ND

Material: Bronze

Size: 22.9 x 22.9 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 4.0 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is an auspicious-phrase charm, likely cast no earlier than the Ming dynasty and possibly after the Qing dynasty. It weighs 4 grams, approximately the average weight of standard coinage from the early to mid-Qing period (up to the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor), making it slightly heavier than late Qing coinage.

The obverse bears the inscription “Jia Guan Jin Jue” (Promotion and Ennoblement) in regular script (kaishu), arranged in a paired reading format. The four characters are closely pressed against the outer rim or inner border, which deviates from traditional aesthetic norms, possibly due to limitations in craftsmanship. The phrase “Jia Guan Jin Jue” combines the words “Jia Guan” (promotion in office) and “Jin Jue” (elevation in nobility), and may have originated in the Ming dynasty, appearing in works such as Shao Can’s play Xiangnang Ji (The Sachet Record). By the Qing dynasty, this phrase had become widely used in fiction.

The reverse features the phrase “Nian Nian Ru Yi” (May Each Year Bring Fulfilment) in clerical script (lishu), also arranged in a paired reading format. The script appears somewhat crude, and the characters, like those on the obverse, are closely pressed against the outer rim or inner border, again deviating from traditional aesthetic standards, likely due to craftsmanship constraints. The phrase “Nian Nian Ru Yi” appears to have become a common auspicious saying no earlier than the Qing dynasty. Li Dou’s Yangzhou Huafang Lu (Records of Painted Pleasure Boats in Yangzhou), compiled during the Qianlong era, documents the themes of Suzhou decorative paintings, among which “Nian Nian Ru Yi” is mentioned.

Chinese numismatic charms are non-circulating copper objects primarily used for blessings, household protection, entertainment, and social purposes. They were prevalent from the Han dynasty to the Qing dynasty. Most charms are round with a square hole, though some feature irregular shapes or openwork designs. These charms serve various functions, including those inscribed with auspicious phrases for marriage and longevity, talismanic charms engraved with Bagua, Taiji, or Daoist symbols for warding off evil, and charms featuring zodiac animals, historical figures, or mythical creatures. Some were also used as gaming tokens or in religious rituals. The production of numismatic charms reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties, characterised by refined craftsmanship and diverse themes. Unlike official currency, numismatic charms had no fixed denomination and were not used as a medium of exchange. Typically cast by either private artisans or imperial workshops, these charms reflect popular customs and cultural beliefs, earning them the designation “minsu qian” (folk charms). As a result, they continue to be highly valued by collectors today.

物件編號: A1940

年代: ND

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 22.9 x 22.9 x 1.1 mm

重量: 4.0 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此為一枚吉語花錢，可能於清以後所鑄，最早不會早於明代。重量4克，大約為清前期至中期(嘉慶帝及之前)制錢的平均重量，較晚清制錢稍重。

錢幣的正面為「加官進爵」真書(楷書)，對讀。四字都緊貼外輪或內廓，不合傳統審美，或為工藝條件所致。「加官進爵 」成語將「加官」、「進爵」二詞連用，最早可能出自明代，如邵璨戲曲《香囊記》等，於清代小說中已相當普及。

錢幣的背面為「年年如意」隸書，對讀。文字稚拙。四字都緊貼外輪或內廓，不合傳統審美，或為工藝條件所致。「年年如意」則可能遲至清代才作為常用吉語，李斗於乾隆年間撰《揚州畫舫錄》，其中敘蘇州彩畫之主題，便有「年年如意」。

中國花錢是一種非流通性銅質錢幣，主要用於祈福、鎮宅、娛樂、社交等用途，盛行於漢代至清代。其形狀多為圓形方孔，但也有異形、鏤空等設計。花錢的類型多樣，包括用於婚慶祝壽，刻有各式吉語的吉語錢。帶有八卦、太極、道教符號的鎮宅厭勝錢，以及生肖、歷史人物、神獸等主題。也有作為遊戲籌碼或宗教祭祀的專用錢幣。明清時期花錢發展達到高峰，工藝精美且題材豐富。與正式貨幣不同，花錢無固定面額，不作交易媒介，通常由民間或宮廷鑄造，因其反映民情風俗、文化信仰，故又稱為民俗錢，也因此至今仍為收藏家所珍視。