Item number: A2154

Year: ND

Material: Brass

Size: 58.3 x 35.4 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 14.5 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a charm coin in the shape of a gourd, made of brass, with an uncertain date of origin. In Chinese folklore, the gourd carries various auspicious connotations. Beyond its phonetic resemblance to “fortune and prosperity” (福祿), its vine-growing nature also symbolises fertility and the blessing of numerous descendants.

The stem of the gourd-shaped charm coin has a perforation for suspension. On the obverse, the upper section features a small circular design resembling a square-holed cash coin, with the character “發” (prosperity) inscribed at the centre. Surrounding it, the phrase “心想事成” (may all wishes come true) is engraved in sequence from top, bottom, right, to left.

The lower section of the coin consists of a larger circular area with the character “順” (smooth or favourable) at the centre. Surrounding this are five bat motifs, symbolising blessings, along with the auspicious inscription “萬事勝意” (may everything go better than expected).

On the reverse side of the coin, the upper section features a small circular area engraved with a Taiji symbol and the Eight Trigrams motif.

The lower section consists of a larger circular area with a square-holed cash coin design at the centre. Surrounding it, the phrase “百福滿堂” (a hall filled with a hundred blessings) is inscribed in sequence from top, bottom, right, to left. The character “福” (blessing) in the lower part is noticeably larger. Additionally, the outer rim features eight smaller “福” characters and rising sun motifs on both the left and right sides.

Flower coins, also known as “Yansheng coins” or “Yasheng coins,” were not formal currency. Initially, they were primarily used for prayers for good fortune and to ward off evil spirits. Over time, their usage became more widespread. These coins were minted from the Western Han Dynasty to the early Republic of China, with a particular abundance and variety during the Qing Dynasty.

物件編號: A2154

年代: ND

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 58.3 x 35.4 x 1.5 mm

重量: 14.5 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚葫蘆造型的花錢，其材質為黃銅，年代不明。葫蘆在中國的民俗中，有著許多跟吉祥有關的意涵。除了葫蘆和「福祿」諧音相似，作為藤蔓植物的特性也使其跟多子多孫的形象劃上等號。

葫蘆花錢的蒂頭打了一個用以穿孔的洞。正面上半部的小圓設計為方孔錢造型，正中央有一個「發」字，周圍則按照上、下、右、左順序，依序鐫刻「心想事成」四字。錢幣下半部的大圓在正中央有一個「順」字，周圍則有五隻環繞的蝙蝠圖騰和賀語「萬事勝意」。

花錢又稱厭勝錢、壓勝錢，非正式流通的貨幣，最初主要用於祈吉、驅邪，而後使用範圍越趨廣泛。從西漢至民初均有鑄造，尤以清代為盛，種類繁多。