Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Northern and Southern Dynasties,
Northern Wei,
Wu Zhu,
Yongping,
Emperor Xuanwu
(Elongated Character &
Large-size Specimen)
北魏 永平五銖
(長字大樣)
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.