5 Zhu "Western Han" type; with small Wu 74 BC - 49 BC
| Bronze | 3.20 g | 24 mm |
| Issuer | China (ancient) |
|---|---|
| Period | Western Han Dynasty (202 BC - 8 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 74 BC - 49 BC |
| Value | 5 Zhu |
| Currency | Zhu (119 BC to 9 AD) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 3.20 g |
| Diameter | 24 mm |
| Thickness | 1.2 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#240423 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 93% |
Reverse
Blank (uniface).
Edge
Plain
Comment
The "Western Han" type is differenciable from the "Eastern Han" type in the top horizontal of the right radical of Zhu: the "Western Han" type is flat whereas the "Eastern Han" type is cuved.Starting from 113 BC, coins were cast with smooth edge.
The small Wu has the edge of the right side of the Wu far from the edge, and most moulds are dated from the reign of Xuan of Han (74-49 BC).
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features a unique combination of characters on its reverse side. The small Wu symbol, which represents the ancient Chinese state of Wu, is placed on top of the standard 5 Zhu denomination character. This combination indicates that the coin was issued during a time when the Western Han dynasty was expanding its territories and absorbing smaller states, such as Wu, into its empire. This coin serves as a tangible reminder of the historical events that took place during that time period.
