1 Cash - Mingdao Yuanbao; Regular script; iron ND
| Iron | - | 26 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Northern Song dynasty › Renzong (宋仁宗) (1022-1063) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1032-1033 |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Iron |
| Diameter | 26 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-03 |
| Numista | N#213196 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Blank (uniface).
Edge
Plain
Interesting fact
The Mingdao (Yuanbao; Regular script; iron) coin from the Empire of China, which was minted between 1032 and 1033, is notable for its use of iron as the material. This was a significant departure from the traditional use of copper, silver, or gold for coins, and it was likely a response to the high demand for currency during the Northern Song dynasty. The use of iron was also a nod to the country's long history of ironworking and metallurgy, which dates back to the Shang dynasty (16th-11th centuries BCE). Despite being made of a less valuable material, the Mingdao coin was still widely accepted and used throughout the empire, and it remains a valuable collector's item today.
