Ancient Chinese coins date back to 2000 BC during the Xia dynasty. There are still coins used today, but then they varied in size and shape and were used for many different things.
Types of coins range. The things people used as coins vary. Bone cowrie money was used in China starting in the 14th century BC during the during the Shang and Western Zhou eras. The shells were used and substitutes were made of carved bone. They were outlawed in 221 BC.
During the Spring-Autumn and Warring States era hollow-shaft spade coins were used. Also, some of the first coins resembled knives. They were large and made with a hole at the top for stringing. One kind was called "The Ming" after the city. It was around from 400BC to 225 BC. They, also, had a coin called the "Bu" spade coin. This era also had some of the first round coins.
The Qin dynasty was from 221BC to 207BC. During this time both gold and bronze coins were used. However, The first metal coins were made somewhere during the Pre-Chou dynasty and the Chou dynasty. This was somewhere between 600-300 BC.
Ancient coins that are not worth much today considering how old they are, are the Pan Liang coins. They were around for at least 2000 years. Up until 1911 AD, they were still in use. The coins were made between 140 BC to 118 BC. It is a round coin with a square in the middle.
During the Han dynasty, which was between 206BC to 220AD, minting coins was made into a state monopoly. In the first century, 220,000 strings of 1000 coins each were made. Coins of the western Han used a casting mould of bronze to make the coins easy to standardize. They used artists to incise the mold since it only had to be done once.
The Wu-Ch'U were introduced under the Emperor Yuan- shou. This coin was much like the Pan Liang except the rim was raised to prevent filling. This kept the coin from wearing out as quickly as the coins before it. This coin became used over the next 6 centuries in various forms.
One coin used during the Mongol period between 1280-1368 was a round coin with a square in the middle. It had many intricate designs. This coin was stopped from use very quickly due to people hoarding them. They were given a time period to return them or be punished.
The coins of the ancient Chinese varied widely to begin with. After a while, though, they all tended to be round with a square center. Most were eventually made with some kind of metal, usually bronze. The history of each coin is long and belongs to one of the many dynasties China has had over the centuries.
Types of coins range. The things people used as coins vary. Bone cowrie money was used in China starting in the 14th century BC during the during the Shang and Western Zhou eras. The shells were used and substitutes were made of carved bone. They were outlawed in 221 BC.
During the Spring-Autumn and Warring States era hollow-shaft spade coins were used. Also, some of the first coins resembled knives. They were large and made with a hole at the top for stringing. One kind was called "The Ming" after the city. It was around from 400BC to 225 BC. They, also, had a coin called the "Bu" spade coin. This era also had some of the first round coins.
The Qin dynasty was from 221BC to 207BC. During this time both gold and bronze coins were used. However, The first metal coins were made somewhere during the Pre-Chou dynasty and the Chou dynasty. This was somewhere between 600-300 BC.
Ancient coins that are not worth much today considering how old they are, are the Pan Liang coins. They were around for at least 2000 years. Up until 1911 AD, they were still in use. The coins were made between 140 BC to 118 BC. It is a round coin with a square in the middle.
During the Han dynasty, which was between 206BC to 220AD, minting coins was made into a state monopoly. In the first century, 220,000 strings of 1000 coins each were made. Coins of the western Han used a casting mould of bronze to make the coins easy to standardize. They used artists to incise the mold since it only had to be done once.
The Wu-Ch'U were introduced under the Emperor Yuan- shou. This coin was much like the Pan Liang except the rim was raised to prevent filling. This kept the coin from wearing out as quickly as the coins before it. This coin became used over the next 6 centuries in various forms.
One coin used during the Mongol period between 1280-1368 was a round coin with a square in the middle. It had many intricate designs. This coin was stopped from use very quickly due to people hoarding them. They were given a time period to return them or be punished.
The coins of the ancient Chinese varied widely to begin with. After a while, though, they all tended to be round with a square center. Most were eventually made with some kind of metal, usually bronze. The history of each coin is long and belongs to one of the many dynasties China has had over the centuries.
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