© Stephen Album Rare Coins
© Stephen Album Rare Coins
Fractional cash - Zhihe Yuanbao; temple coin ND
1328 year| Bronze | 2.51 g | 15 mm |
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Yuan dynasty › Yesün Temür Khan "Taiding" (元泰定) (1323-1328) |
| Type | Token |
| Year | 1328 |
| Value | Fractional cash (½) |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 2.51 g |
| Diameter | 15 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-04 |
| Numista | N#221696 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Blank (uniface).
Edge
Plain
Comment
During the Yuan dynasty, there was a preference for paper money and silver ingots, making actual coins scarce or rare. However, the Yuan dynasty emperors supported Buddhism, and allowed temples to cast their own statues and artifacts. These temple coins were originally cast as offerings to Buddha, but due to their metal content, they still had an intrinsic value. While they were not official issues, these were widely accepted and used as small change in the markets.With these not being official issues, there are different diameters and weights possible. The average weights seem to be around 1/2 Cash, but smaller and larger weights exist.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Token Fractional cash - Zhihe (Yuanbao; temple coin) ND (1328) from Empire of China made of Bronze weighing 2.51 g is that it was used as a form of currency during the Yuan Dynasty, which was established by Kublai Khan in 1271. The Yuan Dynasty was the first dynasty in China to use paper money as a primary form of currency, and the Zhihe coin was one of the denominations used during this time. The use of paper money and the Zhihe coin helped to facilitate trade and commerce throughout the empire, which stretched from China to Eastern Europe.
