Item number: A4363

Reference number: DCD#217-2; WZTK#4157

Year: AD 581-601

Material: Bronze

Size: 25.0 x 25.1 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 3.85 g

Provenance: Spink 2023

This Wu Zhu coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Wen, the founding sovereign of the Sui Dynasty, and is occasionally referred to as the Kaihuang Wuzhu. The currency adopts the archetypal square-hole form; however, in contrast to the various Wu Zhu iterations produced during the Han Dynasty, Sui specimens are distinguished by prominent and robust outer rims on both the obverse and reverse.

The obverse bears the seal script inscription “Wu Zhu” (Wuzhu) positioned to the right and left of the aperture. Notably, the two intersecting diagonal strokes of the character wu (五) are relatively straight, diverging from the more pronounced curvature characteristic of pre-Sui Wu Zhu coinage. Furthermore, an inner border is present on the side adjacent to the character wu. Regarding the character zhu (銖), the head of the jin (金) radical inclines inwards, and the zhu (朱) component features a “broken stroke” (duanbi). The reverse is plain (guangbei), devoid of any patterns or inscriptions, and the specimen possesses a dark green patina. A defining feature of Sui Wu Zhu coinage is the substantial square inner border on the reverse. These specimens possess a larger module with a broader outer rim and bolder calligraphic strokes; they are noted for their refined craftsmanship and are frequently recovered from sites in Xi’an, Shaanxi, and Luoyang, Henan.

Upon his accession in AD 581 (the first year of the Kaihuang era), Emperor Wen (Yang Jian) sought to rectify the prevailing monetary chaos—characterised by the disparate weights of preceding currencies like the Wuxing Dabu and Yongtong Wanguo, as well as rampant private minting—by decreeing the issuance of a new currency. While retaining the “Wu Zhu” inscription and emulating the form of Western Wei coinage, the new coins were increased in weight, with the regulation specifying that one thousand coins should weigh four jin and two liang (averaging approximately 3.2 grams per unit), including defined rims for both the face and the aperture. To enforce this transition, the authorities implemented a rigorous “Sample Wu Zhu” (Zhiyang Wuzhu) system, displaying standard specimens at capital markets, provincial kiosks, and border passes; any legacy or private currency failing to match these standards was subject to confiscation and smelting, with violators facing capital punishment. Early issues were noted for their refined craftsmanship. During the Kaihuang era, Emperor Wen permitted princes such as Yang Guang (Prince of Jin) and Yang Liang (Prince of Han) to establish mints in Yangzhou, Ezhou, Bingzhou, and Yizhou. The most celebrated variant, the “White Coin” (Baiqian), acquired its name from the pale hue resulting from the government-mandated addition of tin and pewter to the alloy. These coins feature delicate calligraphic strokes, with the intersecting lines of the wu character rendered in a curved style, reflecting an aesthetic synthesis that incorporated the strengths of the Southern Chen Dynasty’s coinage; it is highly probable that these were produced under Yang Guang’s supervision in Yangzhou. However, during the latter years of the Daye era under Emperor Yang, the central authority eroded, leading to a collapse of the monetary system alongside the political order. Currency became increasingly debased and lightweight, culminating in a period of extreme disorder where clipped iron, leather, and pasted paper were utilised as surrogates for money. As the final official issue in Chinese history to employ the Zhu-liang weight-based system, the Sui Wu Zhu was formally superseded by the Kaiyuan Tongbao currency system in AD 621 (the fourth year of the Wude era) and subsequently ceased to circulate.

物件編號: A4363

參考書目編號: DCD#217-2; WZTK#4157

年代: 公元 581-601 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 25.0 x 25.1 x 1.2 mm

重量: 3.85 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2023

這是隋朝開國皇帝隋文帝任內鑄造的五銖錢，有稱其為「開皇五銖」者。錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，相較漢代鑄造的各種五銖錢，隋朝的五銖錢正反兩面皆有明顯厚實的外廓。

錢幣正面的右左兩側，分別以篆書鐫刻「五銖」兩字，其中「五」相交的兩道斜線筆劃較為筆直，相形之下，隋代以前的五銖錢斜線筆劃曲度較明顯。且接近「五」字的一側具內廓。「銖」字則「金」旁字首向內傾斜，「朱」旁有斷筆。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何圖案和文字，通體為暗綠色。同時背面中央有一個厚實的方形內廓，亦是隋代五銖的一大特色。錢體較大，外輪較寬，字體較粗，鑄造精整，多出於陝西西安、河南洛陽等地。

隋文帝楊堅於開皇元年(公元581年)即位後，為解決前朝舊錢(如五行大布、永通萬國等)輕重不一與私鑄猖獗的問題，下令更鑄新幣。新錢仍銘「五銖」，在形制上仿效西魏五銖但加重分量，規定錢背肉好周郭、每千文重四斤二兩(單枚標準約3.2克)。為確保新幣推行，當局採行嚴格的「置樣五銖」制度，在京師、各州邸肆及四方關口立榜置樣，凡與樣錢不符的舊錢或私錢一律沒收銷毀，甚至處以極刑。早期初鑄錢製作精整。開皇年間，文帝准許晉王楊廣、漢王楊諒等王子於揚州、鄂州、并州、益州等地設爐鑄錢。其中最著名的「白錢」，因在鑄造時按政府規定摻入錫镴，色澤發白，其文字筆畫纖細，「五」字交筆轉為曲筆，風格兼採南朝陳錢之長，被認為極可能是楊廣在揚州所鑄。然而，到了隋煬帝大業後期，王綱弛紊，幣制隨政局崩潰，錢幣轉趨輕惡，甚至出現剪鐵鍱、裁皮糊紙為錢的混亂局面。隋五銖作為中國歷史上最後一種實行「銖兩制」的官鑄錢幣，於唐武德四年正式被「開元通寶」的寶錢體系所取代，再未通行。