Item number: A3305

Year: AD 1094-1098

Material: Bronze

Size: 30.6 x 30.5 x 1.4 mm

Weight: 7.15 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This coin is a zhe er denomination piece titled “Shao Sheng Yuan Bao”, cast during the reign of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song dynasty, specifically between the first and fifth years of the Shao Sheng era (AD 1094–1098). The term zhe er indicates a nominal value equivalent to two xiao ping qian (small standard coins).

The coin conforms to the traditional form of coinage within the Sinosphere: a round coin with a square central hole. The obverse bears the inscription “Shao Sheng Yuan Bao” in seal script, read in a clockwise sequence beginning from the top. The calligraphy is upright, with robust and finely executed strokes. The character “Sheng” (聖) is notably narrower in width compared to the other characters. None of the four characters are connected to the inner square or outer rim. The reverse of the coin is plain and uninscribed.

During the Song dynasty, a dual currency system comprising copper and iron coinage was adopted, with designated regions for circulation. Iron coins were primarily circulated in frontier areas such as Shaanxi, Guangnan, Sichuan, and Hedong, though the boundaries of circulation shifted over time. In some regions, copper and iron coinage coexisted. This monetary arrangement arose from several factors: first, the scarcity of domestic copper ore; second, the need to prevent copper currency from flowing into rival states such as Western Xia, Liao, and Jin; and third, to enable the local supply of military resources, thus alleviating the burden on central finances. As a result, the Song government initially promoted the casting of iron coinage. However, due to its heavy weight and inconvenience in transport, early forms of paper money—namely jiaozi and huizi—emerged as alternative currency.

Emperor Zhezong of Song (r. AD 1085–1100), personal name Zhao Xu, was the seventh emperor of the Song dynasty. He ascended the throne at the age of nine, during which Empress Dowager Gao (posthumously Empress Xuanren Shenglie) acted as regent. In the early years of his reign, political power was held by the conservative faction led by Sima Guang, who implemented the “Yuan You Reforms”, reversing the earlier policies of Wang Anshi. After the death of the Empress Dowager, Emperor Zhezong assumed personal rule and shifted toward supporting the reformist faction, appointing officials such as Zhang Dun, thereby reinstating the reform agenda in what became known as the “Shao Sheng Restoration”.

Zhezong was known for his obstinate and self-willed nature. His political style was characterised by the appointment of harsh and uncompromising ministers, which led to administrative instability and exacerbated factional conflicts. In foreign policy, peace was maintained with the Liao dynasty, while several military campaigns were conducted against Western Xia, though with limited success. The internal instability and escalating fiscal strain during Zhezong’s reign marked a critical turning point in the Northern Song dynasty’s transition from prosperity to decline. He died in the third year of the Yuan Fu era (AD 1100) without an heir and was succeeded by his younger brother Zhao Ji, who became Emperor Huizong of Song.

物件編號: A3305

年代: 公元 1094-1098 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 30.6 x 30.5 x 1.4 mm

重量: 7.15 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

此錢為「紹聖元寶」折二錢。於北宋哲宗紹聖元年至紹聖五年(公元1094至1098年)間鑄造。「折二」意即可折二枚小平錢。

錢幣形制為漢文化圈傳統之方孔圓錢。錢面錢文為「紹聖元寶」篆書，自上至右旋讀。字體端正，肉厚精整。「聖」字寬度較窄。四字均未接穿連輪。錢幕光素無文。

兩宋時期的錢幣採銅-鐵二元制，區分行用區域，各自流通。鐵錢多行用於陝西、廣南、四川、河東等邊境諸路或前線區域，時有更動，少數地區銅鐵並行。之所以如此，一來是國內的銅礦資源缺乏；二來是防止銅錢流入競爭對手，諸如西夏、遼和金等北方政權；三為就地供給軍需，以免拖垮中央財政。使得兩宋朝廷先是鑄造鐵錢，後更因鐵錢質重，攜帶不便，出現紙幣雛形的「交子、會子」作為貨幣。

宋哲宗(公元1085 年至1100年在位)，名趙煦，為宋朝第七位皇帝。哲宗即位時年僅九歲，由祖母宣仁聖烈皇后(高太后)垂簾聽政，初期政局由司馬光等新舊黨爭中的舊黨主導，推行「元祐更化」，廢止王安石變法。太后去世後，哲宗親政，轉而重用章惇等新法派，恢復變法政策，史稱「紹聖紹述」。哲宗個性剛愎自用，政治風格偏向任用嚴厲之臣，造成朝政動盪，黨爭激烈。外交上與遼國維持和議，對西夏則數次用兵，但戰果有限。哲宗時期內政不穩，財政日益緊張，是北宋由盛轉衰的重要轉折時期之一。他於元符三年(公元1100年)駕崩，無子，由其弟趙佶(即宋徽宗)繼位。