Item number: A2631

Year: AD 1237-1240

Material: Bronze

Size: 34.6 x 34.6 mm

Provenance:

1. Spink 2023

2. Dr. Werner Burger Collection

This is a bronze coin inscribed “Jiaxi Chungbao” (嘉熙重寶), named after the fourth reign title of Emperor Lizong, the fifth ruler of the Southern Song dynasty.

The coin adopts the typical Chinese square-holed cash format. On the obverse, the four characters “Jiaxi Chungbao” (嘉熙重寶) are engraved in upright regular script, arranged in a clockwise sequence. The reverse side is plain, without any inscription or decorative motifs.

The Jiaxi Chungbao series was produced in three denominations based on size: three-cash, five-cash, and ten-cash. The specimen held in this collection, based on its dimensions, corresponds to the five-cash.

During the reign of Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty (AD 1224–1264), a total of eight era names were used. In the Duanping period (AD 1234–1236), Lizong formed an alliance with the Mongols, leading to the destruction of the Jin Dynasty, which had controlled northern China. However, Lizong, eager to reclaim the former Northern Song capital of Bianjing (Kaifeng), broke the agreement and launched an attack against the Mongol forces. This failed campaign ultimately led to an all-out war between the Mongols and the Southern Song.

After the Mongol conquest of the Southern Song and the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan’s Tibetan Buddhist confidant, Yang Lianzhenjia, desecrated Emperor Lizong’s tomb and crafted his skull into a ritual kapala bowl. It was only after Zhu Yuanzhang overthrew the Yuan Dynasty and established the Ming Dynasty that Lizong’s remains were reburied with imperial honours.

物件編號: A2631

年代: 公元 1237-1240 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 34.6 x 34.6 mm

來源:

1. 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

2. 布威納博士舊藏

這是一枚以南宋第五位皇帝，宋理宗使用的第四個年號作為命名的「嘉熙重寶」青銅錢。

錢幣形制為中國典型的方孔錢。錢幣正面按照順時針順序，以端正的楷書書法鐫刻「嘉熙重寶」四字。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何文字或圖案。嘉熙重寶按照尺寸大小，分別有折三、折五和折十，上述三種面額。本館收藏按照尺寸大小，其面額為折五。

宋理宗在位期間 (公元1224至1264年)，先後使用過八個年號。宋理宗於端平年間和蒙古結盟，雙方一舉消滅盤據在華北的金朝。然而急於收復北宋舊都汴京的宋理宗又毀約攻擊蒙軍，最終行動失敗也引發蒙古和南宋之間全面的戰爭。蒙古滅亡南宋建立元朝之後，忽必烈的藏傳佛教親信楊璉真珈還盜取宋理宗的陵寢，將其頭骨加工為法器嘎巴拉碗。直到朱元璋推翻元朝建立明朝後，才以皇帝的禮節將宋理宗的頭骨重新下葬。