National Currency Collection

China, 400 BC

Story

Money reflects identity

For many years China used cowry shells as currency. This was a successful international currency, but it lacked any local identity. The Chinese later developed currency that resembled the shapes of tools they used in their agrarian society. The knife-shaped money had rounded ends, each with hole through which one could string a thong. Because such shapes were not comfortable to carry about, they later became round coins with a hole in the middle. These coins were threaded together on strings to form larger, more useful amounts of cash.

Item Details

Categorization

Collection
Coin
Class
Ancient
Name
Base metal
Form
Circulating

Locations

Country
China
Province
Yan State

Dates

Period of issue
600 BC - 400 BC

Period Events

Period
Warring states

Detail Type

Variety
Pointed tip

Specifications

Preparation Method
Cast

Measurements

Object

Horizontal
155.20mm
Vertical
20.40mm
Thickness
2.20mm
Weight
15.27g

Materials

Object
Copper