1 Cash (Kaiyuan Tongbao imitation; plain reverse; with square hole) ND (701-850) front 1 Cash (Kaiyuan Tongbao imitation; plain reverse; with square hole) ND (701-850) back
1 Cash (Kaiyuan Tongbao imitation; plain reverse; with square hole) ND (701-850) photo
© Christopher Li (CC BY-NC-SA)

1 Cash Kaiyuan Tongbao imitation; plain reverse; with square hole ND

 
Bronze 2.75 g 22 mm
Description
Issuer
Semirechye
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
701-850
Value
1 Cash
Currency
Cash (601-801)
Composition
Bronze
Weight
2.75 g
Diameter
22 mm
Shape
Round with a square hole
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-04
References
Numista
N#197089
Rarity index
90%

Reverse

Blank (uniface).

Edge

Plain

Comment

The Semirechye imitations are often said to have been struck until the end of the 8th century (801); however, with there being an imitation of a Huichang piece (with its original counterpart cast in 841), these were likely struck until at least the mid-9th century.

These examples are distinguishable from the originals because they have local vairiations of the legends and are typically rather crude.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about this coin is that it was used as a form of currency in Semirechye, a region in Central Asia, during the 8th to 10th centuries. Despite being an imitation of the Kaiyuan Tongbao coin, it has a unique feature of a square hole in the center, which sets it apart from other coins of its time.