Item number: A3760

Year: AD 1104-1106

Material: Bronze

Size: 34.0 x 34.0 x 2.2 mm

Weight: 10.75 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This coin is a Chongning Tongbao with a nominal value of dang shi, cast during the Chongning reign of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song, specifically between the third and fifth years of Chongning (AD 1104–1106). The term dang shi denotes a theoretical exchange value equivalent to ten standard small cash coins.

Both obverse and reverse are furnished with an outer rim and an inner border. The obverse bears the inscription Chongning Tongbao in regular script, read from the top character and proceeding clockwise to the right. The calligraphy of the inscription is traditionally attributed to the imperial hand of Emperor Huizong of Song; it is also said that some inscriptions were written by Cai Jing, though such attributions cannot be conclusively verified. The character Chong is comparatively broad, a form referred to as “broad Chong” (kuo Chong), while the character Tong leans slightly to the left, known as “inclined Tong” (fu Tong). All four characters are relatively large in size: Chong connects to and pierces the outer rim, and Ning similarly connects to and pierces the rim. The reverse is plain and uninscribed.

From the Xining and Yuanfeng periods of the Northern Song (AD 1068–1085) onward, mineral output gradually declined. Although the exemption-from-labour tax was abolished and restrictions were imposed on the export of coinage, prices nevertheless continued to rise slowly. Central government finances were frequently strained. Consequently, Cai Jing, a disciple of Wang Anshi and a leading figure of the New Policies faction, was appointed grand councillor. The reign title was changed to Chongning, meaning “revering Xining,” and the New Policies were reinstated in an effort to extract revenue for the state. Cai Jing promoted the casting of dang shi Chongning Tongbao and Chongning Zhongbao coins, later relying on them almost exclusively in order to achieve fiscal consolidation. However, when weight and copper content are taken into account, the intrinsic value of dang shi coins may not have equalled even three standard small cash coins of the Tianxi period. As a result, market disturbances were continuous and illicit casting became widespread. The authorities subsequently reduced the valuation of dang shi coins to dang wu, then further to dang san, before ultimately abandoning them altogether.

Emperor Huizong of Song (born AD 1082, died AD 1135), personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song, reigning from AD 1100 to 1126. He excelled in calligraphy and painting, created the distinctive Slender Gold script, and ardently promoted the arts, Daoism, philosophy, and ritual, elevating court art of the Song dynasty to its zenith. Politically, however, he was inept: he placed trust in corrupt officials, indulged in extravagant expenditure, and gravely misjudged the strategic situation vis-à-vis the Jin and Liao states, leading to the Jingkang Incident. In AD 1127, during this catastrophe, he was captured and taken north, marking the fall of the Northern Song. He later died in Wuguocheng under Jin captivity. Despite his outstanding artistic achievements, Huizong has ultimately been regarded as a ruler who brought disaster upon the state, and historical assessments of his reign remain sharply divided.

物件編號: A3760

年代: 公元 1104-1106 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 34.0 x 34.0 x 2.2 mm

重量: 10.75 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

此錢為「崇寧通寶」當十，於北宋徽宗崇寧三年至崇寧五年(公元1104至1106年)間鑄造。「當十」意即理論上可折算為十枚小平錢。

錢幣面背均具外輪及內廓，錢面錢文為「崇寧通寶」，楷書，自上而右旋讀，錢文原文為宋徽宗御筆，相傳一些錢文為蔡京所書，但無從辨識。「崇」字較寬，稱「闊崇」；「通」字向左微傾，稱「俯通」。四字字體均較大，「崇」字接穿連輪，「寧」字接穿。錢背則光素無文。

北宋熙寧、元豐年間(公元1068至1085年)以降，礦產量逐漸減少。雖廢免役法及禁錢出境，但物價仍緩慢上漲。中央財政也時有困難，於是任王安石學生，新黨蔡京為相，改元崇寧，意即追崇熙寧，復行新法，為國取利。蔡京鼓鑄當十的崇寧通寶、重寶，後更專用之，以收斂財之效。但綜合重量及銅含量，當十錢之價值可能不及天禧年間小平錢三枚。是故，市場紛擾不斷，盜鑄亦普遍。於是後以當十錢作當五，後又作當三，終至廢弛。

宋徽宗(生卒公元1082-1135年)，名趙佶，是北宋第八位皇帝，公元1100至1126年在位。他精於書畫，自創瘦金體，極力推崇藝術、道教、哲學與禮制，將宋代宮廷藝術推至高峰。政治上昏庸，重用奸臣，揮霍無度，誤判金遼局勢，導致靖康之變。公元1127年，靖康之變中被俘北上，北宋滅亡，後死於金國五國城。儘管有著藝術成就，徽宗最終被視為誤國之君，歷史評價兩極。