Item number: A3861

Year: 73-64 BC

Material: Bronze

Size: 26.2 x 26.2 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 2.9 g

Manufactured by: Shanglin Garden, Chang’an

Provenance: Spink 2023

This coin is believed to be a “Xuan Emperor Wuzhu”, which was likely first cast during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty, between the Benshi and Dijet eras (from approximately 75 BC to 60 BC). Based on variations in the calligraphic form of the character “wu” (“five”), this type can be further divided into early and late phases. The earliest known moulds of the early phase date to the second year of the Dijet era (AD 68), whereas those of the later phase have been dated to the second year of the Yuankang era (AD 64), exhibiting distinct differences in style.

On the obverse, the coin has an outer rim but no inner border. The inscription Wuzhu is written in seal script and read from right to left. In the character wu, the curved strokes are pronounced, with the ends of the vertical stroke slightly drawn inward; the curvature is greater than that seen under Emperors Wu and Zhao, yet slightly less than that of the Yuan Emperor period. In the character zhu, the left component (zhu) has a short, angular initial stroke and a long, rounded terminal stroke. On the reverse, both the outer rim and inner border are present, with the inner border being relatively thin. Coins of this type have been excavated at sites such as Luoyang in Henan.

The Wuzhu coin was first issued in the fifth year of the Yuanshou reign of Emperor Wu (118 BC), and at that time, it was cast both by the central court and by local kingdoms and commanderies. Consequently, private and unregulated minting became widespread. In the fourth year of the Yuanding reign (113 BC), Emperor Wu centralised minting authority within the Three Offices of Shanglin Garden, standardising the coinage under the name “San Guan Wuzhu coin” (“Three Offices Wuzhu”). All other forms of coinage were abolished, and only the San Guan coinage was permitted in circulation. From the fourth year of Yuanding (113 BC) to the fifth year of Yuanshi (AD 5), successive emperors continued to implement this system with only minor modifications to the coin moulds. In total, the San Guan Wuzhu coin remained in official circulation for 123 years.

Emperor Xuan of Han, originally named Liu Bingyi and later renamed Liu Xun, was the tenth emperor of the Western Han dynasty. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Wu and succeeded Emperor Zhao. Born in the late years of Emperor Wu’s reign, his father Liu Jin was executed during the witchcraft accusations scandal, and Liu Xun spent his early years imprisoned. Later, under the recommendation of Grand Marshal Huo Guang, he was brought out of confinement and proclaimed Crown Prince. He ascended the throne in the first year of the Yuanping era (74 BC). During his reign (until 49 BC), his governance was marked by political clarity and a strong emphasis on the well-being of the people. He maintained and strengthened the reform policies initiated during Huo Guang’s regency, a period known in history as the “Restoration of the Middle”. Emperor Xuan was diligent in administration, sought to reduce harsh punishments, and welcomed frank counsel, successfully restoring the foundations of the Han dynasty, which had weakened in the later years of Emperor Wu’s rule. In foreign affairs, he continued a policy of stabilisation with the Xiongnu, bringing relative peace to the frontiers. The reforms of the Wuzhu coinage under his reign were also effective and laid a foundation for future monetary systems. After his death, he was posthumously honoured with the temple name “Zhongzong” and was buried at Duling. Historians have generally regarded him as an enlightened and capable ruler.

物件編號: A3861

年代: 公元前 73-64 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 26.2 x 26.2 x 1.3 mm

重量: 2.9 g

製造地: 上林苑，長安

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

此錢應為「宣帝五銖」，可能於西漢宣帝本始至地節年間始鑄。以「五」字寫法作為分別，可再分為前後期，前期錢範最早出土者為地節二年(公元前68年)，與出土之元康二年(公元前64年)後期錢範有所不同。

錢幣正面有外輪而無內廓，錢文為「五銖」篆書，由右向左順讀。「五」字曲筆，豎劃之兩端微向內收，相較武、昭帝時期曲率加大，較元帝時期曲率又稍小。「銖」字「朱」旁首短而方折，尾長而圓折。錢幣背面外輪內廓俱全，內廓較細。類似的錢幣於河南洛陽等地有出土。

五銖錢初行於漢武帝元狩五年(公元前118年)，由朝廷與各郡國分鑄，於是私鑄、濫鑄禁之不絕。元鼎四年(公元前113年)，漢武帝專鑄幣權於上林苑三官，統一形制，稱「三官五銖錢」，令天下廢此前諸錢，非三官錢不得行。自元鼎四年至元始五年(公元5年)，諸帝持續行用，僅稍作更換版模，三官五銖錢共鑄行一百二十三年。

漢宣帝，原名劉病已，後改名劉詢，是西漢第十位皇帝，為漢武帝曾孫，繼昭帝位。生於武帝末年，因其父劉進捲入巫蠱案而被誅，幼年時曾被囚禁於獄中。後來經大將軍霍光奏請迎立為皇太子，於元平元年(公元前74年)即位。在位期間(至公元前49年)，政治清明、重視民生，延續並鞏固霍光時期的改革政策，史稱其時為「中興之治」。他注重吏治、減輕刑罰、勵精圖治，並能接受直言進諫，恢復了漢朝自武帝末年以來逐漸動搖的國本。對外則延續和穩定與匈奴的關係，使邊境相對安定。漢宣帝治下的五銖錢改革也頗具成效，為後世貨幣制度奠定基礎。他去世後廟號「中宗」，葬於杜陵，史家多稱其為明君。