Item number: A2144

Year: 336-221 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 31.1 x 31.3 x 1.4 mm

Weight: 8.25 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps & Coins Collection 2015

This is a suspected large-sized Ban Liang coin minted by the State of Qin between the 7th year of Duke Xian of Qin and the 18th year of Duke Xiao of Qin (377–344 BC). The Ban Liang coinage system originated during the Warring States period and was used continuously from Qin to the Western Han Dynasty, until it was eventually replaced by the Wu Zhu coin.

The Ban Liang established the fundamental round shape with a square hole, which influenced the design of Chinese coinage in subsequent dynasties. This form persisted as the standard monetary design in China until the 20th century, when it was ultimately supplanted by European-style mechanised minting techniques.

During the Warring States period, Ban Liang coins were characterised by their relatively large size and weight. In the case of this specimen, the coin has a diameter of approximately 31 mm and weighs 8.25 grams, equivalent to 12 zhu. The coin follows the typical square-holed round coin design, with a bluish patina covering its surface, and is made of bronze.

On the obverse side, the inscriptions “Ban Liang” (半兩) are engraved in seal script (篆書), a style commonly used on bronze artefacts during the Warring States period. The character “Ban” (半) on the right side has suffered wear, making the two upper strokes indistinct, while the lower strokes are not raised, giving it the appearance of a lantern handle. The character “Liang” (兩) on the left side has a truncated top stroke, while the two “ren” (人) radical strokes inside remain particularly prominent.

The reverse side is plain, devoid of any inscriptions or decorative elements.

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: A2144

年代: 公元前 336-221 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 31.1 x 31.3 x 1.4 mm

重量: 8.25 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚疑似於秦獻公7年至秦孝公18年 (公元前377至344年)，秦國鑄造的大型半兩錢幣。半兩是自戰國時代以來，從秦國一路延伸使用到西漢遭到五銖錢取代的錢幣類別，其奠定的圓形方孔影響後續中國各個朝代的錢幣造型，直到公元20世紀遭到歐式機械鑄幣取代為止。

戰國時期的半兩特色為尺寸和重量較大，以本收藏為例，其直徑約為31公釐，重量則是8.25克，相當於12銖。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，通體為藍色的包漿覆蓋，材質為青銅。錢幣正面的右側和左側，分別以戰國時代流行於青銅器上的篆書鐫刻「半兩」二字。右側的「半」頂端的兩個筆劃遭到磨蝕不甚明顯，下半部的筆劃沒有凸出來，使其外觀看起來像是一把提燈。左側的「兩」頂端的筆劃被省略，裡面的兩個「人」字型筆劃則特別明顯。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何文字或圖案。

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。