Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)
The Jurchen Jin dynasty was an empire that ruled over Northern China and what would later become Manchuria from 1115 until 1234.[1] After the Jurchens defeated the Khitans, and the Chinese they would continue to use their coins for day to day usage in the conquered territories. In 1234 they were conquered by the Mongol Empire (further reading: Yuan dynasty coinage).
History
Although the Jin dynasty had become issuing paper Jiao chao (交鈔) in 1154, they didn’t produce coins until the year 1158, prior to that coins from the preceding Liao and Song dynasties continued to circulate within Jurchen territory,[2] as well as a continuing large inflow of coins produced by the Song, this was because the territory of the Jin didn't have enough copper to meet the demand.[3][4] Jin era coins circulated alongside paper money and silver sycees, and were the main medium of exchange for the general population.
In the beginning iron coins continued to circulate but this had become to be perceived as an inconvenience so the Jin government ordered the immediate ban on melting down copper for usage other than currency, and was quick to open more copper mines to manage the production of copper coinage. 3 mints were opened that together produced 140,000 strings of coins a year (or 140,000,000 cash coins annually), after inflation had become a problem this production became less profitable for the Jin government.[5]
Coins produced by the Jin dynasty compared to earlier Liao dynasty coinage are both of higher quality, and quantity; this is because the Jurchens chose to model their coins more closely after the Song’s both in production as superficially in its calligraphic style.
Due to the constant Mongol invasions and high military expenditures, coins cast after 1209 had become a rarity.[6]
List of coins produced by the Jin dynasty
Coins produced by the Jurchen Jin dynasty include:[7][8]
Inscription | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Scripts | Years of minting | Emperor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zheng Long Yuan Bao | 正隆元寶 | 正隆元宝 | Regular script | 1158-1161 | Wanyan Liang |
Da Ding Tong Bao | 大定通寶 | 大定通宝 | Regular script | 1178-1189 | Shizong |
Tai He Tong Bao | 泰和通寶 | 泰和通宝 | Regular script | 1204-1209 | Zhangzong |
Tai He Zhong Bao | 泰和重寶 | 泰和重宝 | Regular script, Seal script | 1204-1209 | Zhangzong |
Chong Qing Tong Bao | 崇慶通寶 | 崇庆通宝 | Regular script | 1212-1213 | Wanyan Yongji |
Chong Qing Yuan Bao | 崇慶元寶 | 崇庆元宝 | Regular script | 1212-1213 | Wanyan Yongji |
Zhi Ning Yuan Bao | 至寧元寶 | 至宁元宝 | Regular script | 1213 | Wanyan Yongji |
Zhen You Tong Bao | 貞祐通寶 | 贞佑通宝 | Regular script | 1213-1216 | Xuanzong |
Zhen You Yuan Bao | 貞祐元寶 | 贞佑元宝 | Regular script | 1213-1216 | Xuanzong |
Da Qi coinage
In 1130 during the Jin–Song Wars the Jin dynasty had set up a second puppet state called “Da Qi” (after the failed first puppet state, Da Chu), this puppet state briefly produced its own coins until it was defeated by the Song in 1137.[9]
Coins produced by the brief vassal state include:
Inscription | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Script | Emperor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fu Chang Tong Bao | 阜昌通寶 | 阜昌通宝 | Regular script, Seal script | Liu Yu |
Fu Chang Yuan Bao | 阜昌元寶 | 阜昌元宝 | Regular script, Seal script | Liu Yu |
Fu Chang Zhong Bao | 阜昌重寶 | 阜昌重宝 | Regular script, Seal script | Liu Yu |
See also
- Zhou dynasty coinage
- Ancient Chinese coinage
- Liao dynasty coinage
- Southern Song dynasty coinage
- Western Xia coinage
- Yuan dynasty coinage
- Ming dynasty coinage
- Qing dynasty coinage
References
- ^ Alexander Kim Historical Studies of the Jurchen in Russia. Retrieved: 20 June 2017.
- ^ Chinaknowledge.de An overview of the economic history of the Jurchen Jin dynasty. ChinaKnowledge.de - An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art About [Location: HOME > History > Jin > Economy] Retrieved: 18 June 2017.
- ^ .pdf [http://www.econ.ucla.edu/workshops/papers/History/Von%20Glahn.pdf Silver and the Transition to a Paper Money Standard in Song Dynasty (960-1276) China.] Richard von Glahn (UCLA) (For presentation at the Von Gremp Workshop in Economic and Entrepreneurial History.) University of California, Los Angeles, 26 May 2010 Retrieved: 17 June 2017.
- ^ Robert M. Hartwell, “The Imperial Treasuries: Finance and Power in Sung China,” Bulletin of Sung-Yuan Studies 20 (1988).
- ^ Hartill, 218. Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
- ^ "Chinese coins – 中國錢幣 (Jurched/Jurchen Jin Dynasty)". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ Numis' Numismatic Encyclopedia. A reference list of 5000 years of Chinese coinage. (Numista) Written on December 9, 2012 • Last edit: June 13, 2013 Retrieved: 17 June 2017
- ^ Charms.ru [http://www.charm.ru/coins/vn/ch-vn.shtml Coincidences of Vietnam and China cash coins legends.] Francis Ng, People’s Republic of China, Thuan D. Luc, United States, and Vladimir A. Belyaev, Russia March-June, 1999 Retrieved: 17 June 2017.
- ^ Hartill, 221. State of Qi
Sources
- Hartill, David (September 22, 2005). Cast Chinese Coins. Trafford, United Kingdom: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1412054669.
- Franke, Herbert; Twitchett, Denis (1994). "Introduction". The Cambridge History of China: Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States, 710–1368. Cambridge University Press. pp. 2–42. ISBN 978-0-521-24331-5.
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