Item number: A2738

Year: AD 1054-1056

Material: Iron

Size: 33.7 x 33.7 x 3.0 mm

Weight: 13.2 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2020

During the Zhihe era (AD 1054–AD 1056) under Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, three types of era coins were minted: “Zhihe Yuanbao,” “Zhihe Tongbao,” and “Zhihe Zhongbao,” with “Zhihe Chungbao” available in three different script styles: Clerical, Regular, and Seal scripts, and were produced in both bronze and iron. This particular specimen is made of iron.

The coin is cast in the typical square-holed cash coin format. On the obverse, the four characters “至和重寶” (Zhihe Chungbao) are inscribed in regular script calligraphy, arranged in a clockwise sequence.

The character “同” (Tong) is inscribed at the upper rim on the reverse of the coin, indicating that it was cast at the Zhuyang Mint (朱陽監) in Tong Prefecture (同州), which was part of the Shaanxi Circuit (陝西路) during the period.

“Zhihe” was the eighth era name used by Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen, and it signifies the ultimate harmony between heaven and earth.

During Emperor Renzong’s reign, Fan Zhongyan served as the prime minister. During the Qingli period, they attempted to implement the Qingli New Policies, but the effort failed due to overwhelming opposition.

There is also a popular folk tale known as the “The Cat for the Crown Prince” (狸貓換太子), in which the protagonist is Emperor Renzong himself.

物件編號: A2738

年代: 公元 1054-1056 年

材質: 鐵

尺寸: 33.7 x 33.7 x 3.0 mm

重量: 13.2 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2020

北宋仁宗至和年間（公元1054-1056年）曾鑄行「至和元寶」、「至和通寶」、「至和重寶」年號錢，其中「至和重寶」有隸、楷、篆三種書體，並且分為銅、鐵兩種材質，本物件材質為鐵。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢。錢幣正面按照順時針順序，以漢字楷書書法鐫刻「至和重寶」四字。錢幣背面的上緣打印鑄造地點「同」，代表由陜西路同州的朱陽監所鑄造。

至和，是宋仁宗趙禎使用的第八個年號，有天地極和之涵義。宋仁宗時期的宰相為范仲淹，慶歷年間，君臣曾推行慶歷新法，然而因反對勢力過大而失敗。民間有傳聞「狸貓換太子」的故事，當中的主角也是當朝皇帝宋仁宗。