Item number: A3300

Year: 283-265 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 182.0 x 31.0 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 49.85 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a replica of the six-character knife coin issued by the State of Qi during the late Warring States period. The precise date of issuance and the interpretation of the inscriptions on the coin remain subjects of scholarly debate. However, the most widely accepted view among academic and numismatic circles is that this coin was issued as a commemorative piece between 283 and 265 BC, during the reign of King Xiang of Qi—the penultimate ruler of the state—to celebrate the recovery of territory previously lost to the State of Yan.

The coin adopts the knife-shaped form (dao bi) that was prevalent during the Warring States period, especially among the northern and eastern states such as Yan, Qi, Zhao, and Zhongshan. As the state with the longest tradition of issuing knife money, Qi produced coins that were not only more aesthetically refined but also notably larger in size compared to those of other states. The surface of these coins often bears bronze inscriptions indicating their place of issue. Archaeological evidence suggests that the most common type of Qi knife coin features a three-character inscription reading “Great Knife of Qi” (齊大刀), followed by variants with four or five characters. Six-character specimens, such as the one held in this collection, are the rarest among known examples.

Among the six bronze inscriptions on the obverse of the coin, the first character “Qi” and the third character “Bang” are generally uncontested in scholarly interpretation. However, the remaining characters are subject to differing readings. If one accepts the interpretation that the six-character knife coin was issued to commemorate the restoration of the state by King Xiang of Qi, the full inscription may be read as “Qi Fan Bang Zhang Fa Hua” (齊返邦長法化). In this context, “Qi Fan Bang” refers to the king’s return to the former capital Linzi, while “Fa Hua” denotes a reference to statutory or official currency.

The reverse side of the coin is heavily worn; however, faint traces of parallel line decorations can still be discerned at both ends of the blade.

In 284 BC, under the command of General Yue Yi, the State of Yan led a coalition of five other feudal states in a military campaign against the State of Qi. This invasion caused severe devastation to Qi: King Min of Qi was killed, and only the cities of Ju and Jimo remained under Qi’s control. Subsequently, General Tian Dan, who was defending Jimo, broke the Yan army’s siege using the famed “Fire Oxen Formation” and gradually reclaimed the lost territories. The people of Qi then enthroned Prince Tian Fazhang—who had been living in hiding as a servant in Ju—as the new ruler, later known as King Xiang of Qi.

物件編號: A3300

年代: 公元前 283-265年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 182.0 x 31.0 x 2.0 mm

重量: 49.85 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚戰國晚期，戰國七雄之中的齊國所發行的六字刀幣仿造品。學界和收藏界對於六字刀幣的確切年代，乃至表面鐫刻的文字內容仍有多種不同的說法。但是最廣為人知的說法是，這枚錢幣為公元前283至265年，統治齊國的倒數第二任君王，齊襄王在位期間為慶祝從燕國手上收復失地發行的紀念錢幣。

錢幣外觀為戰國時期，主要流通於燕、齊、趙和中山國等，地處北方和東方的諸侯國常見的刀幣形制。齊國作為使用刀幣最為悠久的國家，其發行的刀幣相較其他諸侯國更為美觀，體積也更為龐大。並且在表面還會鐫刻青銅銘文，用以表示發行的地點。根據考古資料，齊國刀幣以鐫刻三個字的「齊大刀」為大宗，接著則是四字或五字，本館收藏的六字刀幣數量則最為稀少。

錢幣正面的六個青銅銘文，目前較無爭議的是字首「齊」和第三個字「邦」，其餘的銘文則有不同的解讀。若採納六字刀幣為齊襄王慶祝復國的脈絡，其完整的字句會是「齊返邦長法化」。「齊返邦」即描述君王重返故都臨淄，「法化」則是指涉法定貨幣。

錢幣背面的磨蝕較為嚴重，但是在刀身首尾兩端仍能依稀看到以平行的線條作為裝飾。

公元前284年，燕國在大將樂毅的指揮之下，夥同其他五個諸侯國共同討伐齊國。齊國在這次侵略中遭到嚴重的破壞，齊湣王遭到殺害外，全國僅存莒和即墨兩座城池仍在齊國的掌握之中。後續齊國則由防守即墨的大將田單以「火牛陣」突破燕軍的包圍，並且逐步恢復失土。齊人也擁立避居於莒城偽裝為傭人的太子田法章為新任君主，便是日後的齊襄王。