Item number: A2271

Year: AD 76-146

Material: Bronze

Size: 25.5 x 25.4 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 3.2 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This coin is identified as a Wuzhu coin from the mid-Eastern Han period, imitating the form of the Jianwu-style Wuzhu first minted in the seventeenth year of Emperor Guangwu’s Jianwu reign (AD 41). It was likely cast between the first year of Emperor Zhang’s Jianchu reign and the first year of Emperor Zhi’s Benchu reign (AD 76–146).

The coin is round with a square central hole. The obverse features an outer rim with a faint inner border, while the reverse bears both an outer rim and a clearly defined inner border, with faint traces of diagonal corner lines (“four-prong pattern”) extending from the corners of the square hole. The inscription reads “Wuzhu” in seal script, arranged from right to left, with relatively thick strokes. The character “Wu” features curved brushwork. In the character “Zhu,” both the “metal” radical and the “zhu” component begin with short initial strokes, and the brushstrokes are rounded at the turns. Slight burrs are present along the inner border, indicating substandard craftsmanship. Although the edge of the coin 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.

Emperor Zhang of Han, personal name Liu Da, was the third emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty and the son of Emperor Ming. He ascended the throne in the first year of the Jianchu reign (AD 76). During his reign, he esteemed Confucianism, convened the White Tiger Hall Conference to standardise interpretations of the classics, maintained political stability, dispatched Ban Chao to the Western Regions, and governed with clarity and attention to administration and public welfare. Together with his father, his reign is known as the “Rule of Ming and Zhang.”

物件編號: A2271

年代: 公元 76-146 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 25.5 x 25.4 x 1.2 mm

重量: 3.2 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此錢應為東漢中期之五銖錢，倣光武帝建武十七年(公元41年)始鑄之建武型五銖錢形制。大約鑄於漢章帝建初元年至漢質帝本初元年(公元76-146年)。

錢幣體圓穿方，錢面有外輪而內廓隱現，錢背具外輪內廓，四角隱有四決紋。幣文為「五銖」篆書，由右至左順讀，字體較粗。「五」字曲筆；「銖」字「金」旁與「朱」旁首部較短，筆劃圓折。內廓稍有毛邊，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。

漢章帝劉炟為東漢第三位皇帝，漢明帝之子，於建初元年(公元76年)即位。在位期間尊崇儒術，設白虎觀會議統一經學詮釋。對外穩定發展，遣班超出使西域，政治清明，重視吏治與民生。與明帝共稱「明章之治」。