Item number: A2715

Year: AD 14-23

Material: Bronze

Size: 21.3 x 21.3 x mm

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a “Huo Quan” coin circulated between the first year of Tianfeng and the fourth year of Dihuang during the Xin dynasty (AD 14–23). Its form, featuring a round shape with a square central hole, follows the design of earlier Banliang and Wuzhu coins.

The obverse of the coin includes both an outer rim and an inner border; the outer rim is relatively wide, while the inner border consists of a single line, with a possible casting flaw observed at the upper section of the border. The inscription “Huo Quan” is written in hanging-needle seal script (xuanzhen zhuan) and is read from right to left. This script style is characterised by strokes that are thick at the top and taper toward the bottom, with a structural composition that is dense in the upper portion and more open below. The character “Quan” appears to be in an alternate form, with its central vertical stroke seemingly unbroken. The use of “Quan” (泉) in place of “Qian” (錢), meaning “money,” was due to naming taboos during the reign of Wang Mang, who avoided the character “Liu” (劉), the imperial surname of the Han dynasty. Since the character “Qian” contains the “metal” (金) radical—phonetically and graphically linked to “Liu”—it was renamed accordingly.

The reverse is plain and without inscription, with both outer rim and inner border intact. Compared with historical specifications and excavated specimens, this coin is relatively small, and may have been privately cast.

In AD 6, Wang Mang assumed control of the Han court under the title of Acting Emperor (Jushe), and later proclaimed himself emperor, founding the Xin dynasty. Between AD 7 and 14, in an effort to consolidate central power and gain popular support through wealth redistribution, the coinage system was reformed four times. Wang Mang, influenced by the Zhou dynasty’s doctrine of matched mother and child coins, repeatedly introduced coins of varying names and denominations, many of which were undervalued. At its peak, the system comprised five materials and six names, amounting to twenty-eight types of currency. The legal framework became excessively complex, leaving the populace confused and disoriented. Each reform triggered economic and social upheaval, with contemporary records stating that “the people were bankrupted and fell into severe punishment.”

In the first year of Tianfeng (AD 14), surplus coinage was prohibited, and the “Huo Quan” and “Huo Bu” coins were minted. Twenty-five Huo Quan coins equalled one Huo Bu, and each Huo Quan coin weighed five zhu. In the fourth year of Dihuang (AD 23), the Xin dynasty was overthrown. In the second year of Gengshi (AD 24), Liu Xuan, the Gengshi Emperor, minted Wuzhu coins, but he was killed the following year by the Red Eyebrow Army. In the third year of Gengshi, Liu Xiu declared himself emperor and established the Jianwu reign. In the seventeenth year of Jianwu (AD 41), Wuzhu coins were reissued, remaining in circulation for over five centuries. However, Huo Quan coins continued to be used sporadically in the market, possibly until the accession of Emperor Ming of Han in the first year of Yongping (AD 58).

Wang Mang (c. 45 BC–AD 23) was a member of the Wang clan, a prominent consort family of the Western Han dynasty, and was deeply influenced by Confucian thought. Known for his upright character, he rose swiftly through the ranks of government as the nephew of Empress Wang Zhengjun, consort of Emperor Yuan of Han. In AD 9, Wang Mang seized the throne and established the Xin dynasty. Claiming to restore ancient institutions, he enacted sweeping reforms in land ownership and currency systems to create an ideal Confucian society. However, his reforms were overly idealistic and poorly attuned to social and economic realities, ultimately inciting widespread unrest and rebellion. He was killed during the Red Eyebrow uprising, and has since remained a controversial figure—viewed variously as a usurper or a visionary reformer.

物件編號: A2715

年代: 公元 14-23 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 21.3 x 21.3 x mm

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚於新莽天鳳元年至地皇四年(公元14至23年)所流通的「貨泉」錢幣，其形制為圓形方穿，與此前半兩、五銖相同。

錢面外輪內廓俱全，外輪較寬，內廓為單層廓，上方廓疑有錯範現象。錢面錢文「貨泉」，以懸針篆書寫，由右至左順讀。懸針篆特徵為筆劃上粗下細，結構上密下疏。「泉」字疑為異書，即中央豎劃似無斷筆。以「泉」作「錢」，是由於王莽篡漢前後，諱「劉」字及「劉」字中「卯、金、刀」旁，而「錢」字存「金」旁，故更名。

錢背外輪內廓俱全，光素無文。此錢與史載規制及出土平均數據相比皆較小，或為私鑄。

公元6年，王莽以安漢公的名義執掌朝政，史稱「居攝」，後更稱帝，代漢立新。自居攝二年至天鳳元年間(公元7-14年)，為中央聚歛財富以收買人心，幣制先後四次改革。王莽持周代子母相權論，不斷變造名目，強行推動不足值的新錢。最盛時達五物六名，共二十八品。法令繁苛，民眾無所適從。每次幣改皆引發市場及社會動盪，「民用破產而大陷刑」。

天鳳元年(公元14年)，禁餘錢，鑄貨泉、貨布，二十五個貨泉值一貨布，貨泉重五銖。地皇四年(公元23年)，新莽被推翻。更始二年(公元24年)，更始帝劉玄鑄五銖，但次年，劉玄旋見殺於赤眉軍。更始三年，劉秀稱帝，改元建武。建武十七年(公元41年)，始復鑄五銖，此後續用五百餘年。但貨泉仍持續於市場上雜用，可能直至漢明帝於永平元年(公元58年)即位。

王莽(約公元前45年至公元23年)，為西漢外戚王氏家族成員，深受儒學薰陶，以品行端正著稱。身為漢元帝皇后王政君之侄，他於成年後迅速崛起於政壇，最終在公元9年自立為帝，建立「新」朝。王莽自稱恢復古制，推行土地與幣制改革，試圖塑造理想儒家社會。然而改革過於理想化且未顧及現實，導致政局動盪與民變四起。最終在赤眉軍起義中被殺，留下篡權者或改革者的兩極評價。