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
