Item number: A2878

Year: 475-221BC

Material: Gilt-Bronze

Size: 24.6 x 16.9 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 2.15 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2020

According to the auction house, this is a gilt bronze cowrie imitation coin excavated from an archaeological site. Most of the gilding on the coin’s surface has worn away, revealing the underlying reddish copper alloy. The surface also exhibits extensive areas of corrosion and patina.

The obverse features a moulded shell aperture, with the central groove slightly curved and flanked by ridged lines simulating the teeth-like structure of genuine cowries. The surface is gently convex, and the longer end is not pierced through.

The reverse is slightly concave, giving the coin a shallow dish-shaped profile. It imitates the worn-flat reverse of real cowrie shells, which were abraded during circulation to allow for stable placement and ease of stringing with cords.

Shell coins were the first form of currency used in ancient times, marking humanity’s transition from barter to monetary trade. Archaeological evidence suggests that during the Shang Dynasty, located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, shells obtained through trade routes extending from the South China Sea to as far as the Indian Ocean, particularly the Maldives, were used as currency. In addition to natural shells, replicas of shell coins were also made from materials such as clay, stone, jade, and bone. During the late Shang Dynasty, from the 14th to the 11th century BC, bronze shell coins emerged, indicating the advanced development of shell currency in China and even serving as inspiration for Chinese script.

As the Spring and Autumn period began, the value of shell coin gradually declined as various Central Plains states developed alternative metallic currencies. Over time, cowrie shells transitioned into burial goods or decorative ornaments. Ultimately, they were abolished when Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the Six States and established a standardised monetary system.

物件編號: A2878

年代: 公元前 475-221 年

材質: 鎏金青銅

尺寸: 24.6 x 16.9 x 1.3 mm

重量: 2.15 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2020

根據拍賣行的說法，這是一枚從考古現場發掘出的鎏金貝幣。貝幣表面的鎏金多半已經剝落，露出底下紅色銅質材料，並且在周圍有許多鏽斑。

正面鑄殼口，殼口之漕微曲，兩側仿實物貨貝而鑄齒紋。正面微凸，長端無貫通。

背面微凹，使側面呈淺碟狀。仿作為貨貝之實物貝殼，於流通時背面磨去，方便平放以及以繩串連的形制。

貝幣是上古時期，人類從以物易物演進到貨幣貿易的第一種貨幣。根據考古資料的佐證，位處黃河中游的商朝藉輾轉貿易從南中國海，甚至遠至印度洋的馬爾地夫得到作為貨幣的海貝。除了天然的海貝之外，也出現以陶土、石頭、玉器和骨骼等原料仿製的貝幣。公元前14至11世紀的商朝晚期，更出現以青銅鑄造的貝幣，標示貝幣在中國的高度發展，甚至成為中國文字的創意靈感。

進入春秋時代之際，隨著中原各國演化出其他金屬貨幣，貝幣作為錢幣的價值逐漸下降，慢慢轉變為陪葬或裝飾用的擺飾，最終隨著秦始皇統一六國制定新的貨幣遭到廢止。