Item number: A2146

Year: ND

Material: Bronze

Size: 30.3 x 29.0 x 1.7 mm

Weight: 8.8 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is an imitation Ban Liang coin of unknown date, modelled after those used from the Qin state to the Western Han period. The coin exhibits a rough appearance and crude craftsmanship, with a square hole in the centre that is rotated into a diamond-shaped orientation.

The obverse side of the coin features the inscription “Ban Liang” (半兩) in seal script on the left and right sides. Additional Chinese characters are engraved on the upper and lower sections, though they are difficult to discern. Each of the four corners of the coin is adorned with a decorative bead-like dot, a characteristic that gives this type the name “Four-Pillar” (四柱). The reverse side is blank and covered with a large area of green patina.

The Ban Liang was a round coin used as currency within the State of Qin during the reign of King Huiwen of Qin in the Warring States period. Following the unification of China in 221 BC by Qin Shi Huang, the Ban Liang became the standard currency throughout the empire. It remained in circulation until the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, when it was eventually replaced by the Wu Zhu coin.

物件編號: A2146

年代: ND

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 30.3 x 29.0 x 1.7 mm

重量: 8.8 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚年代不明，模仿秦國至西漢時期使用的半兩造型花錢。錢幣的外觀和工法上看起來十分粗糙，正中間的方孔呈現菱形角度。

錢幣正面的左右兩側以篆書鐫刻「半兩」兩字，上下兩側也有鐫刻漢字，但是難以辨識。錢幣四個角落也各有一枚珠點作為裝飾，故被稱作是「四柱」。錢幣背面為光背，並且為大面積的綠鏽所覆蓋。

半兩為戰國時代秦惠文王統治時期，於秦國境內流通的圓形貨幣。隨著公元前221年，秦始皇建立中國歷史上第一個統一的王朝，半兩也為通行於全國的貨幣直到西漢武帝之際，方才為五銖錢取代。