National Currency Collection

China, Ming, 1368-1644, 1 kwan, 1000 cash : 1398

Object ID: 1963.0048.00039.000

Story

You better hope counterfeiters can read

This is an example of some of the earliest paper money. Like all early paper money, it was redeemable for hard currency or precious metal - in this case 1000 copper coins weighing around 3 kilograms. In fact, there is an illustration of those coins on the bill, neatly bound together in strings of 100 coins. There is also a warning printed on the note to would-be counterfeiters that plying their illegal trade is punishable by death. Adding insult to fatal injury, their property would then be awarded to the person who denounced him.

Item Details