Item number: A3780

Year: AD 1075–1084

Material: Bronze

Size: 23.3 x 23.1 x 0.8 mm

Weight: 2.65 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a Da Kang Yuanbao coin cast under the reign of Emperor Daozong of the Liao dynasty, Yelü Hongji, the eighth Liao emperor, using his third reign title Da Kang (1075–1084 AD). During the Da Kang period, Emperor Daozong emulated the Southern Song dynasty by issuing two monetary types under the same reign title: Yuanbao and Tongbao.

The coin follows the traditional square-holed round format characteristic of the Sinosphere. The obverse inscription reads “Da Kang Yuanbao” and is to be read from the top and then clockwise. The script combines regular and clerical styles, with relatively thick strokes. In the character Kang, the central vertical stroke is interrupted, a feature known as the “broken stroke Kang” (duan Kang). This variety is the most common, accounting for more than half of recorded excavated examples. The coin surface is plain and undecorated.

The Liao dynasty, also known as the Khitan, originated from a nomadic tribal confederation in northeastern China. The term “Khitan” is also associated with the meaning “iron”. In 907 AD, the tribal leader Yelü Abaoji proclaimed the founding of the state, marking the emergence of the Liao dynasty as a dominant power on the northern Asian steppe and posing substantial pressure on the Han Chinese regimes to the south.

Emperor Daozong, Yelü Hongji, reigned from 1055 to 1101 AD and soon after his accession formally adopted the dynastic name “Great Liao” in place of Khitan. Although his reign was lengthy, it was characterised by extravagance and political corruption, during which the state entered a period of decline. A series of major disturbances followed in succession, including the Luan River Rebellion, the miscarriage of justice in the Ten Fragrances Lyrics case, the rebellion of Yelü Yixin, and the Mogusi uprising, all of which destabilised the central government. Yelü Hongji was also a devout Buddhist and expended vast resources on the construction of monasteries and pagodas, leading later commentators to criticise the dynasty as having “declined through devotion to Buddhism”. During his reign, the Jurchen gradually consolidated neighbouring tribes and rose to prominence. Ultimately, in 1125 AD, all five Liao capitals fell, the last emperor, Tianzuo, was captured, and the Great Liao came to an end. Remnant forces led by Yelü Dashi fled westward into Central Asia, where they established the Western Liao state.

物件編號: A3780

年代: 公元 1075–1084 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 23.3 x 23.1 x 0.8 mm

重量: 2.65 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是遼朝第八任皇帝遼道宗耶律洪基，以其使用的第三個年號「大康」(公元1075至1084年) 鑄造的「大康元寶」。遼道宗在大康年間仿效南方的宋朝，以同一個年號發行「元寶」和「通寶」兩種形制的貨幣。

錢幣形制為漢文化圈傳統的方孔圓錢。正面錢文「大康元寶」，自上而右旋讀。字體楷隸相參，筆畫較粗。「康」字中豎劃間有斷筆，稱「斷康」，該版式最為常見，佔出土紀錄過半。錢幕光素無文。

遼朝又稱作契丹，為發源於中國東北的遊牧民族部落，契丹一詞又有「鐵」的意思。公元907年，部落首領耶律阿保機宣布建國伊始，遼朝成為北亞草原的霸主並且對於南方的漢人政權構成巨大的壓力。

遼道宗耶律洪基為第八任皇帝，公元1055至1101年在位，未幾改國號契丹為大遼。其雖長期在任，卻奢侈無度，政治腐敗，國勢在其執政下步入衰弱。先後有灤河之亂、十香詞冤案、耶律乙辛之亂、磨古斯叛亂，中樞動搖。耶律洪基並篤信佛教，靡費巨資修築佛寺、佛塔，使後世有｢遼以釋廢｣之評。女真於其任內逐漸合併他部，繼而崛起。最終於公元1125年，遼五京全部淪陷，末帝天祚帝遭俘，大遼滅亡。殘部耶律大石等則向西遁逃至中亞，成立西遼。