Item number: A2197

Year: 221-207 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 24.1 x 24.6 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 3.4 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 lacks both an outer rim and an inner border on its obverse and reverse sides. The square hole is relatively narrow, and the reverse is plain and uninscribed. The obverse bears the inscription “Ban Liang” in seal script, to be read from right to left. The strokes are rounded with angular turns, and the two characters are not aligned with the square hole. In the character “Ban”, the two horizontal strokes are of unequal length, with the upper stroke shorter than the lower. In the character “Liang”, the two “Ren” radicals in the middle feature relatively long vertical strokes, a characteristic referred to as “Long Ren Liang”. Coins displaying these features have been excavated in various locations, including Xin’an, Xinzheng, and Luoning in Henan Province, as well as Xi’an, Fufeng, and Qishan in Shaanxi Province. The outer rim of the coin is irregular in form, and its weight is significantly lighter than the statutory standard, suggesting it may have been privately cast during the late Qin period.

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: A2197

年代: 公元前 221-207 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 24.1 x 24.6 x 1.5 mm

重量: 3.4 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，方穿較狹，錢背光素無文。正面錢文為「半兩」篆書，由右向左順讀，筆劃圓折，二字並未對齊方穿。「半」字二橫劃上短下長；「兩」字中二「人」旁豎劃較長，稱「長人兩」。該特徵之半兩於河南新安、新鄭、洛寧、陝西西安、扶風、岐山等地均有出土。此錢外輪不規整，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。