© ollisaarinen (CC BY)
© ollisaarinen (CC BY)
1 Cash - Qingyuan Tongbao; Chun; read clockwise; iron
| Iron | 4.79 g | 25 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Southern Song dynasty › Ningzong (宋寧宗) (1194-1224) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 1-7 (1195-1201) |
| Calendar | Chinese - Qingyuan era |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Iron |
| Weight | 4.79 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Thickness | 2.3 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#141489 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
One Chinese ideogram above and one below.
Script: Chinese (traditional, regular script)
Lettering:
春
五
Translation:
Chun / Wu
Qichun (mint) / Year 5
Edge
Plain
Comment
The Qianyuan era lasted only six years, so the instructions to change the era name on the coins must not have been given in time, leading to some coins to be dated Year 7.Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it was made of iron, which was a unusual choice of material for coins at that time, as most coins were made of copper, silver or gold. The use of iron in coinage was seen as a way to reduce the cost of production and make the currency more accessible to the general population. This decision was taken by the government of the Empire of China during the reign of Emperor Chun, who ruled from 1195 to 1201. Despite being made of a less valuable material, these coins were still carefully crafted and had a unique design, featuring the Chinese characters for "Tongbao" and "Chun" on one side, and a stylized flower on the other.
