| Ancient Chinese coins have a long history dating as | | | | 600-300 BC. |
| far back as 2000 BC when China was ruled by the | | | | "Pan Liang" style coins were in service for an |
| Xia dynasty. These coins had many different | | | | extremely long period of time. It is very possible that |
| variations. From size, shape, to design. These coins | | | | they were in use up to 2000 years. In some areas |
| were unique with each passing dynasty. | | | | they were in use all the way until 1911 AD. The coins |
| During the Shang and Western Zhou eras there were | | | | were made in the later years of the BC era, |
| numerous types of coins that came into use. The very | | | | somewhere between 140 and 118 BC. These round |
| first of these coins were cowry money. These were | | | | coins have a square hole in the middle. |
| originally made of shells, but substitutes became used | | | | Minting coins were first made into a state monopoly |
| later that were made from carved bone. The cowry | | | | during the Han dynasty which roughly lasted around |
| was outlawed in 221 BC. | | | | 400 years, between 206 BC to 220 AD. In the first |
| When the Warring States and Spring-Autumn | | | | century alone over 220,000 strings were made. Each |
| dynasties came into effect, we were introduced to | | | | contained 1000 coins. In the Western Han, casting |
| many new coins. Hollow-shaft spade coins are one | | | | mould in bronze became used. This was done in order |
| example of this. One of the other coins that was | | | | to easily standardize the coins. |
| unusually interesting looked somewhat like a knife. | | | | Emperor Yuan-shou introduced the Wu-Ch'U coin |
| These very large "coins" had a hole at one end for the | | | | during his reign. Much like the Pan Liang this coin was |
| purposes of stringing them together. These specific | | | | also round with a square middle. The only difference is |
| coins, "The Ming", are the namesake of the famous | | | | that this coin has a raised rim to help prevent so much |
| city. The "Bu" spade coin also came from this era also. | | | | wearing. For 600 years this coin was used in several |
| Some of the very first circular coins came from this | | | | forms. |
| rime frame as well. | | | | When the Mongols were ruling China they produced |
| The Qin dynasty was from 221BC to 207BC. During | | | | coins, but one coin in particular had to be stopped from |
| this time both gold and bronze coins were used. | | | | being used. This coin was so nice it was being |
| However, The first metal coins were made | | | | hoarded by the people. The Mongols had to eventually |
| somewhere during the Pre-Chou dynasty and the | | | | make them trade it out. They promised punishment if |
| Chou dynasty. This was somewhere between | | | | this did not happen. |