Item number: A3809／A3810／A3811／A3812／A3819／A3820／A3821／A3822／A3823／A3824

Year: AD 918-925

Material: Lead

Size: 26.3 x 25.9 x 0.7 mm (A3809)／26.3 x 25.9 x 0.7 mm (A3810)／25.8 x 25.4 x 0.6 mm (A3811)／25.7 x 25.6 x 1.1 mm (A3812)／26.2 x 25.1 x 1.6 mm (A3819)／24.7 x 24.7 x 0.9 mm (A3820)／26.2 x 26.1 x 0.8 mm (A3821)／24.8 x 24.7 x 1.0 mm (A3822)／24.4 x 24.4 x 1.1 mm (A3823)／24.8 x 24.5 x 0.8 mm (A3824)

Weight: 5.25 g (A3809)／3.95 g (A3810)／3.2 g (A3811)／4.75 g (A3812)／6.1 g (A3819)／3.85 g (A3820)／4.1 g (A3821)／4.05 g (A3822)／4.4 g (A3823)／4.2 g (A3824)

Manufactured by: Panyu (present-days Guangzhou) (A3809、A3810、A3811、A3812、A3821)／Yonzhou (present-days Nanning) (A3819、A3820、A3822、A3823、A3824)

Provenance: Spink 2023

This is a lead Qianheng Zhongbao coin cast and circulated by Liu Yan, founder of the Southern Han regime, which established its power base in Guangzhou during the era of regional fragmentation among powerful warlords in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period following the collapse of the Tang dynasty. The coin bears the reign title adopted at the founding of the regime in AD 917.

The coin conforms to the traditional Sinosphere form of a round coin with a square central perforation. The obverse inscription reads Qianheng Zhongbao in clerical script, arranged vertically and read from top to bottom, right to left. The brushwork is unrestrained. The character qian (乾) appears in the variant form 乹, resembling that found on Tang Qianyuan Zhongbao issues; the character heng (亨) is written as a vertically arranged composite form combining 亣 and 了. Historical records indicate that the lead coinage was divided into two types. One type has a plain reverse, is thin with a relatively large diameter, and weighs approximately three zhu and nine lei (about 6.5 grams); one interpretation holds that this type frequently exhibits transposed characters (with zhong on the left and bao on the right) and was cast in Guangzhou. The other type bears the character Yong (邕) or Yi (邑) on the reverse, and was likely produced in Yongzhou in present-day Guangxi; it is slightly smaller and thicker, weighing about three zhu and six lei (approximately 6 grams). On extant specimens, many strokes press into the outer rim, a feature that may reflect aspects of the minting technique. The actual weight of surviving coins is often lighter than the statutory weight recorded in historical sources, and finer strokes of the obverse inscription also differ slightly from rubbings of excavated specimens, such that the possibility of private casting cannot be excluded.

Coins with a diameter of 26 millimetres or more are classified as large specimens. The four-character inscription varies in breadth according to its distance from the outer rim and inner border; variation is also observed in the relative size of the characters in relation to the central perforation, as well as in the thickness of the strokes. On plain-reverse specimens, the final stroke of the character heng (亨) is often not returned with a hook, whereas on specimens bearing Yong or Yi on the reverse it is commonly written with a hooked return. The reverse characters likewise vary in size, breadth, and in whether they appear raised or lowered.

On specimen A3809, the final stroke of the character heng is written in reverse, a feature known as fan shu heng (“reversed-script heng”).

In the first year of Tianfu of Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang dynasty (AD 901), Xu Yanruo, Military Commissioner of the Qinghai Circuit, died. In his testamentary memorial, he recommended Liu Yin—then Military Commissioner’s aide, a powerful local figure in Lingnan, and the son of the Vice Prefect of Fengzhou—to act as provisional military commissioner. Liu Yin thereby took control of Guangzhou. He was subsequently confirmed as military commissioner and, after Zhu Wen usurped the Tang throne, secured successive promotions up to Prince of Nanhai through lavish gifts to Zhu Wen. Liu Yin actively recruited and patronised men of talent. As the Central Plains were engulfed in turmoil, many scholars fled south to escape the chaos, and Liu extended generous patronage to them. In the first year of Qianhua under Emperor Taizu of the Later Liang (AD 911), Liu Yin died and was succeeded by his younger brother Liu Yan, later renamed Liu Yan (龑). When his request to be enfeoffed as Prince of Nanyue was refused, Liu Yan proclaimed himself emperor in the third year of Zhenming of the Later Liang (AD 917), adopted the state name Great Yue, and inaugurated the Qianheng reign. In the following year, the state name was changed to Han, known in history as the Southern Han. In its early years, the regime cemented alliances through marriage with Min, Chu, and Nanzhao, established schools, instituted a tribute-based examination system, and recruited men of learning from the Central Plains. However, Liu Yan claimed descent from the Qin heartland, despised being ruler over so-called “barbarians”, and belittled the rulers of the Central Plains. In his later years he became increasingly extravagant and suspicious, entrusting power to eunuchs. In the seventh year of Tianfu (AD 942), Liu Yan died. His son Liu Fen succeeded him but was soon murdered by his younger brother Liu Sheng. After ascending the throne, Liu Sheng ruled with extreme cruelty and debauchery, exterminating almost all members of the imperial clan and meritorious officials. Liu Sheng died in the fifth year of Xiande (AD 958) and was succeeded by his son Liu Chang, who proved incompetent and delegated authority to eunuchs, leading to rapid political decline. In the fourth year of Kaibao under Emperor Taizu of the Song dynasty (AD 971), the Southern Han was conquered by the Northern Song. The regime lasted three generations and four rulers, enduring for fifty-five years from AD 917 to 971; if calculated from Liu Yin’s initial control of Lingnan, its existence spanned seventy-one years, from AD 901 to 971.

From the very outset of state formation, the Southern Han minted coinage to finance its expenditures. In the third year of Zhenming of the Later Liang (AD 917), Liu Gong, upon proclaiming himself emperor and inaugurating the Qianheng reign, cast Qianheng Zhongbao bronze coins. In the following year, owing to fiscal shortages, lead coins were also cast, with a fixed rate whereby ten lead coins were equivalent to one bronze coin. Consequently, most bronze issues were produced when the state was still named Great Yue. There also exist bronze coins inscribed Qianheng Tongbao, which survive in extremely small numbers and may have been struck in the first year of Qianheng, suggesting very limited production. The lead coinage falls into two types. One has a plain reverse, is thin and of relatively large diameter, and weighs approximately three zhu and nine lei (about 6.5 grams); one view holds that this type frequently exhibits transposed characters (with zhong on the left and bao on the right) and was cast in Guangzhou. The other type bears the character Yong (邕) or Yi (邑) on the reverse, and was likely produced in Yongzhou in present-day Guangxi; it is slightly smaller and thicker, weighing about three zhu and six lei (approximately 6 grams). Textual sources such as Hong Zun’s Quan Zhi and Wu Renchen’s Shiguo Chunqiu both record that the Southern Han cast Qianheng Zhongbao in both bronze and lead, noting that lead coins were used within the city while bronze coins circulated outside, with strict prohibitions on private export. In terms of calligraphy, bronze coins are generally in regular script, neat and orderly, whereas lead coins mostly employ clerical script with unrestrained and irregular strokes. In addition, small lead coins such as Kaiyuan Tongbao and Wuzhu, excavated in the Guilin region of Guangxi and datable to the Southern Han period, were likely local issues produced during the reigns of Liu Sheng and his son.

物件編號: A3809／A3810／A3811／A3812／A3819／A3820／A3821／A3822／A3823／A3824

年代: 公元 918-925 年

材料: 鉛

尺寸: 26.3 x 25.9 x 0.7 mm (A3809)／26.3 x 25.9 x 0.7 mm (A3810)／25.8 x 25.4 x 0.6 mm (A3811)／25.7 x 25.6 x 1.1 mm (A3812)／26.2 x 25.1 x 1.6 mm (A3819)／24.7 x 24.7 x 0.9 mm (A3820)／26.2 x 26.1 x 0.8 mm (A3821)／24.8 x 24.7 x 1.0 mm (A3822)／24.4 x 24.4 x 1.1 mm (A3823)／24.8 x 24.5 x 0.8 mm (A3824)

重量: 5.25 g (A3809)／3.95 g (A3810)／3.2 g (A3811)／4.75 g (A3812)／6.1 g (A3819)／3.85 g (A3820)／4.1 g (A3821)／4.05 g (A3822)／4.4 g (A3823)／4.2 g (A3824)

製造地: 番禺 (今廣州) (A3809、A3810、A3811、A3812)／邕州 (今南寧) (A3819、A3820、A3822、A3823、A3824)

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是唐朝滅亡的五代十國豪強割據之際，以廣州為根據地的南漢開創者劉龑，以公元917年建元時之年號，所鑄行之「乾亨重寶」鉛錢。

錢幣形制為漢文化圈傳統的方孔圓錢。正面錢文為隸書「乾亨重寶」，自上而下，由右至左對讀。筆劃恣放。「乾」字呈「乹」，似唐乾元重寶；「亨」字寫為豎列的「亣了」合字。史載鉛錢則分為二式：其一光背，形薄而徑大，重約三銖九絫(約合今6.5克)，有一說此制多傳形(即重在左、寶字在右)，為廣州所鑄；其二背鑄「邕」或「邑」字，應出於廣西邕州，形稍小而厚，重約三銖六絫(約合今6克)。實物筆劃多壓輪，可能反映了鑄幣工藝。錢重多輕於史籍中記載的法重，面文筆劃細處亦與考古出土錢幣拓片稍有差別，不排除私鑄的可能。

錢徑26公釐以上為大樣。錢文四字，依其與外輪內廓的距離，而各有闊狹之分；依其與錢穿的大小比例，也有大字小字之別；筆劃則有粗細之別。「亨」字末筆於光背者多未回勾，於背「邕、邑」者多寫為回勾。背文亦有大小闊狹昂降之別。

A3809之「亨」字末筆反書，稱「反書亨」。

唐昭宗天復元年(公元901年)，清海軍節度使徐彥若卒，其遺表薦行軍司馬、嶺南土豪、封州次史之子劉隱為權知留後(即代理節度使)，劉隱遂據廣州。其後獲授節度使，並於朱溫篡唐後，重賂朱溫，累封至南海王。劉隱招賢納士，因中原板蕩，士人多避亂嶺外，劉氏悉加禮遇。梁太祖乾化元年(公元911年)，劉隱卒，弟劉巖(後改名劉龑)繼立。劉巖以受封南越王不成，遂於後梁貞明三年(公元917年)自立稱帝，國號大越，建元乾亨，次年改國號為漢，史稱南漢。其初聯姻閩、楚、南詔，立學校、設貢舉，延納中原人士；然自矜出自「咸秦」，輕侮中朝，晚年奢靡多疑，專任宦者。天福七年(公元942年)劉龑卒，子劉玢立，旋為弟劉晟所弒。劉晟即位後殘酷荒淫，誅戮宗室勳舊殆盡。顯德五年(公元958年)晟卒，子劉鋹立，昏庸委政宦官，國勢日衰。宋太祖開寶四年(公元971年)，南漢為北宋所滅，凡三世四主，立國五十五年(公元917至971年)；若自劉隱據嶺南始計，前後凡七十一年(公元901至971年)。

南漢立國之初便即鑄幣以資財用。劉龔於梁末帝貞明三年(公元917年)稱帝、建元乾亨，鑄「乾亨重寶」銅錢；次年以國用不足，又鑄鉛錢，定十鉛當一銅，故銅錢多鑄於國號仍稱大越之時。另有「乾亨通寶」銅錢，存世極稀，或為乾亨元年所鑄，鑄量甚少。文獻如洪遵《泉志》與吳任臣《十國春秋》均記南漢鑄有銅、鉛「乾亨重寶」，並稱城內用鉛、城外用銅，嚴禁私出。形制上，銅錢多為楷書，端整規矩；鉛錢多用隸書，筆畫狂放而不規範。另於廣西桂林一帶出土南漢時期所鑄鉛質「開元通寶」與「五銖」等小平錢，當為劉晟父子時期地方鑄幣。