Item number: A2265

Year: AD 147-190

Material: Bronze

Size: 25.7 x 25.6 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 2.7 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This coin is likely a Wuzhu coin from the late Eastern Han period, imitating the form of the Jianwu-style Wuzhu first minted in the seventeenth year of the Jianwu reign of Emperor Guangwu (AD 41).

The coin is round with a square central hole. The obverse bears an outer rim but no inner border, while the reverse features both an outer rim and an inner border, and is plain without any inscriptions. The inscription “Wuzhu” is written in seal script, read from right to left. The character “Wu” exhibits curved strokes, similar in structure to those of late Western Han examples. In the character “Zhu,” the triangular initial stroke of the “metal” radical is relatively large, aligned in height with the first stroke of the “zhu” component; the four dots of the “metal” radical form a rectangular configuration. The initial stroke of the “zhu” component is relatively short, and the final stroke longer, with curved turning points that blend rounded and angular forms, slightly extending outward. The inscription is shallow and blurred, suggesting the coin may be privately cast. The outer rim is irregular rather than perfectly circular, indicating poor craftsmanship. Although the edge has been filed, it retains a slight curvature, differing from the smooth and straight edges typical of Western Han Wuzhu coins.

The Eastern Han Wuzhu coins were first minted in the seventeenth year of the Jianwu reign (AD 41) under Emperor Guangwu, following the monetary standards of the Western Han and aiming to restore the economy after the turmoil of Wang Mang’s usurpation. However, over time, the quality of the coins declined in terms of metal composition, craftsmanship, calligraphy, and weight. In the first year of the Chuping reign (AD 190), Dong Zhuo debased the coinage by excessively minting Wuzhu coins, ultimately discrediting the Wuzhu monetary system and causing the collapse of official currency and the broader monetary economy.

物件編號: A2265

年代: 公元 147-190 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 25.7 x 25.6 x 1.0 mm

重量: 2.7 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此錢應為東漢晚期之五銖錢，倣光武帝建武十七年(公元41年)始鑄之建武型五銖錢形制。

錢幣體圓穿方，錢面有外輪而無內廓，錢背具外輪內廓，光素無文。錢文為「五銖」篆書，由右向左順讀。「五」字曲筆，與西漢晚期之「五」字結構相類。「銖」字「金」旁首部三角形較大，與「朱」旁之首部齊平；「金」旁四點呈長方；「朱」旁首部稍短，尾部稍長，筆劃轉折處方中帶圓，並向外稍微伸展。面文平淺、漫漶不清，或為私鑄。外輪不成正圓，為工藝不精所致，幣稜雖經磨鑢，但稍有弧度，與西漢五銖幣稜之光滑平直相異。

東漢五銖錢始鑄於光武帝建武十七年(公元41年)，承西漢錢制，整理王莽亂後經濟。然鑄行日久，銅質、工藝、字形、重量均漸差。獻帝初平元年(公元190年)，董卓濫鑄五銖，終壞五銖錢制，使官錢再無法取信於民，貨幣經濟崩潰。