Item number: A2059

Year: AD 510-528

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.6 x 23.8 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 2.55 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This coin is presumed to be a “Yongping Wuzhu”, first minted in the third year of the Yongping reign of the Northern Wei dynasty (AD 510). Its circulation and production likely continued into the reign of Emperor Xiaoming (AD 515–528), particularly in the capital and neighbouring prefectures.

The coin is round with a square central hole and is slightly larger than the typical Yongping Wu Zhu specimens, suggesting that it is a master pattern coin. The obverse features a broad outer rim but no inner border. A slight protrusion along the edge of the inner border on the obverse is likely the result of force applied from the reverse during the removal of excess metal around the square hole. The inscription reads “Wu Zhu” in seal script, arranged from right to left, with elongated character forms. The junctions of the strokes in the character “Wu” are slightly curved, with the two vertical strokes exhibiting markedly different degrees of curvature, and the strokes varying in thickness. In the character “Zhu”, the initial triangular stroke of the “metal” radical is larger than that of the “vermilion” component, with a slightly pointed apex. The beginning stroke of the “vermilion” component is short and curved, while the final stroke is longer, also curved, and extends slightly outward. The “vermilion” component has also been partially damaged by the square perforation. On the reverse, the outer rim and inner border are faintly discernible, with the surface nearly flat. Casting seams and excess metal have not been trimmed or filed.

According to the “Treatise on Food and Commodities” in the Book of Wei, “In the winter of the third year of the Yongping reign under Emperor Shizong, new Wu Zhu coins were minted.” These Yongping Wu Zhu coins were first cast under Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei (Yuan Ke) and were initially characterised by their substantial weight and thickness. However, over time, the quality of minting deteriorated. The coins became increasingly inconsistent in size and weight, with official issues indistinguishable from inferior privately cast coins that circulated widely in the market.

Throughout the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties periods, the monetary system repeatedly fell into a cyclical pattern: insufficient currency supply led to deflation, prompting the government to issue new coins. These new issues, however, quickly lost credibility due to poor alloy quality, resulting in inflation. This, in turn, led to the hoarding of older, higher-quality coins, once again creating a shortage of circulating currency. Before the Yongping era was the Taihe period, and after it came the Yongan period—each marked by a further decline in currency standards, a deterioration that ultimately could not be halted.

物件編號: A2059

年代: 公元 510-528 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 23.6 x 23.8 x 1.3 mm

重量: 2.55 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此錢應為「永平五銖」，於北魏永平三年(公元510年)始鑄，至孝明帝之世(公元515-528)，京師及附近州郡或仍有鑄行。

錢體外圓穿方，較一般永平五銖稍大，應為大樣。錢幣正面有外輪而無內廓，外輪寬闊，正面內廓邊緣之略微突起應為穿鑿清理餘銅時，自錢背向錢面施力所致。錢文為「五銖」篆書，由右向左順讀，字形修長。「五」字交筆微曲，豎劃之兩劃曲率明顯不一，筆劃粗細亦不均。「銖」之金旁首部三角形大於銖旁之首部，角首稍尖；朱旁首稍短而圓折，尾稍長而亦圓折，並向外稍微伸展。朱旁字形同時遭穿孔侵凌。錢幣背面勉強可辨認出外輪內廓，幾乎平夷，毛邊與餘銅亦未挫去。

《魏書·食貨志》載：「世宗永平三年冬，又鑄五銖錢」，北魏宣武帝元恪所初鑄之永平五銖，錢體較為厚重，此後鑄造漸濫，錢體大小不一、輕重懸殊，與私鑄劣錢混雜行於市場。魏晉南北朝時期，不斷重複著貨幣總量不足—通貨緊縮—官府加鑄新幣—新幣成色失信—通貨膨脹—舊幣遭儲藏—貨幣總量不足的循環。永平前有太和，後有永安，幣制敗壞，終不能止。