1 Cash - Huangsong Tongbao; Seal script; iron ND
| Iron | - | 25 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Northern Song dynasty › Renzong (宋仁宗) (1022-1063) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1039-1054 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Iron |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-03 |
| Numista | N#213272 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Blank (uniface).
Edge
Plain
Comment
Huangsong is not actually an era name, but rather a dynastic title. At the time, the era name was Baoyuan (1039-1040); however, they went with Huangsong to avoid the repeation of 'Bao' (Bao Yuan Tong Bao), which would be considered stylistically incorrect.While the Baoyuan era lasted only a year, these coins are very common, and no regular-sized coins are known from the next three eras (Kangding, Qingli, and Huangyou), meaning these coins were likely produced throught all four of these eras.
Interesting fact
The Huangsong Tongbao coin was the first coin in Chinese history to feature a square hole in the center, which was designed to make it easier to string together multiple coins for large transactions. This innovative design feature has since become a distinctive characteristic of Chinese coins and has been used in various forms throughout history.
