Item number: A2068

Year: 221-207 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.5 x 24.1 x 1.1 mm

Weight: 3.1 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This coin is likely a “Ban Liang” piece cast during the Qin dynasty, possibly minted between 221 and 207 BC, and more specifically during the final years of the Qin period (209–207 BC).

The coin exhibits no outer rim or inner border on either the obverse or reverse, with the sole exception of a horizontal stroke appearing at the top edge of the square central hole. The obverse bears the inscription “Ban Liang” in seal script, read from right to left. The two characters are connected to the central hole and outer edge, with strokes that combine angular and rounded forms. The composition is sparse in the upper part and dense in the lower, creating an unbalanced structure, heavy at the top and light at the bottom. The character “Liang” contains two “ren” radicals in its centre, which are shorter than those found on Ban Liang coins from the Warring States period. This variant is referred to as “double ren Liang” or “short ren Liang”. Coins with these features have been unearthed in locations such as Luoning in Henan Province. The outer rim and inner border of this coin are both irregular in form, and its weight is significantly below the officially prescribed standard. These characteristics suggest that it was likely privately cast during the final years of the Qin dynasty.

The Ban Liang coin of the Qin dynasty represents one of the earliest examples of monetary standardisation in ancient China. Its name derives from the weight unit “ban liang” (half liang), indicating that the coin’s official weight was half a liang, equivalent to twelve zhu, or approximately 7.9 grams in modern terms. The origin of the Ban Liang can be traced back to the monetary reforms initiated by King Huiwen of Qin (reigned 338–311 BC) during the Warring States period. Following the unification of the six states, Qin Shi Huang instituted standardised systems of weights, measures, and currency, formally implementing the Ban Liang coin as a nationwide currency. Typically featuring a round shape with a square central hole, the coin embodies the cosmological notion of “heaven as round and earth as square”. The Ban Liang coin of the Qin dynasty served not only as a medium of exchange but also as a symbol of political unification. Its circulation continued into the Han dynasty and exerted a profound influence on subsequent dynastic monetary systems.

Qin Shi Huang, whose personal name was Ying Zheng, was the first ruler in Chinese history to adopt the title of “Huangdi” (Emperor), thereby establishing the centralised Qin dynasty and bringing an end to the centuries-long fragmentation of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. His achievements extended beyond military conquest to encompass political, institutional, and cultural unification and reform. He abolished the feudal system in favour of a commandery-county structure, appointing centrally controlled officials to govern local regions and thereby consolidating central authority. Qin Shi Huang standardised units of measurement, currency, and written script, promoting economic integration and cultural cohesion throughout the empire. He also initiated the construction of express roads and reorganised the transportation infrastructure to enhance military and administrative efficiency. Furthermore, he commissioned General Meng Tian to lead military campaigns against the Xiongnu in the north and to construct defensive walls—precursors to the Great Wall—to secure the frontier. Although the Qin dynasty collapsed after the reign of his successor and its harsh laws and burdensome corvée labour system were widely criticised, the imperial framework and centralised institutions established under Qin Shi Huang served as a foundational model for subsequent dynasties and profoundly shaped China’s political and cultural identity for the next two millennia.

物件編號: A2068

年代: 公元前 221-207 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 23.5 x 24.1 x 1.1 mm

重量: 3.1 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此錢應為秦鑄之「半兩」，可能於秦代(公元前221至207年)鑄造，特別是秦末(公元前209至公元前207年)。

錢幣正背面均無外輪內廓，唯方穿上方廓有一橫劃。正面錢文為「半兩」篆書，由右向左順讀，兩字接穿連輪，筆劃方中帶圓，結構首部疏散而腳部緊密，頭重腳輕。「兩」字中為二「人」旁，較戰國時半兩之「人」旁稍短，可稱「雙人兩」或「短人兩」。該特徵之半兩於河南洛寧等地有出土。此錢外輪內廓均不規整，加以重量遠輕於法重，疑為秦末私鑄。

秦代「半兩」錢是中國古代最早實行貨幣標準化的重要實例之一，其名稱取自重量單位「半兩」，指錢幣法重應為半兩，即十二銖，約合今7.9公克。半兩最早可追溯至戰國時期秦惠文王(公元前338至311年在任)的貨幣制度，至秦始皇統一六國後， 統一度量衡與貨幣制度，正式推行半兩錢作為全國通用貨幣。此類錢幣多為圓形方孔，體現「天圓地方」的宇宙觀。秦代半兩錢不僅為交易媒介，同時亦為大一統之象徵物，至漢代仍持續沿用，並對後世歷代貨幣制度產生深遠影響。

秦始皇，名嬴政，是中國歷史上首位以「皇帝」為號的君主，建立了中央集權的秦朝，結束了春秋戰國數百年分裂割據的局面。他的成就不僅體現在軍事征服，更在於政治、制度與文化的統一與改革。秦始皇推行郡縣制，廢除分封制，以中央官吏直接管理地方，有效鞏固中央政權；統一度量衡、貨幣與文字，促進全國經濟與文化交流；修築馳道、整頓道路體系，強化軍事與行政效率。他並派蒙恬北擊匈奴、築長城防禦，力保邊疆安全。儘管秦朝二世而亡，征發繇役過度，制度苛烈備受批評。但秦始皇以降的大一統政權，皆以秦制為基礎，影響後世兩千年的政治形態與文化認同。