Fused Chinese Cash Coins, 118 BC - 220 AD, Han Dynasty - Wu Shu (S257)

China - Wu Shu Coin

Han Dynasty

2x Fused Ancient Five Shu Coins

Two Wu Shu coins that have become fused together with time, covered in a lovely green patina. Coins were not minted with dates, but this form was used between 118 BC to 220 AD.

According to the records of the court of Emperor Wu(Han Wu-ti) in the fifth year of Yuan-shou (118 BC) the light weight Pan-liang coins were replaced in favour of the Wu Shu(5 shu) coins. Unlike the crude Pan Liang, Wu Shu were better cast with finished edges, well developed rims on both sides and a inner rim on the reverse also using finer calligraphy of a more modern style. They were produced according to the weight standard of the Ban Liang(a return to standard of the 179 to 136 BC period).

The Han Dynasty(206 BC – 220 AD) was an imperial dynasty of China. It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty from 9–23 AD. This interregnum separates the Han into two periods: the Western Han (206 BC – 9 AD) and Eastern Han (25–220 AD). Spanning over four centuries, the period of the Han Dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history.

The Han Dynasty was an age of economic prosperity and saw a significant growth of the money economy(currency or coin based as opposed to barter system) first established during the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1050–256 BC). The coinage issued by the central government mint from 118 BC remained in use as the standard coinage of China for nearly 700 years until the Tang Dynasty(618–907 AD) began minting what are today known as Chinese Cash coins.

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