Catalog
| Issuer | Empire of China |
|---|---|
| Year | 621-907 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| Currency | Cash (621-1912) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 3.45 g |
| Diameter | 25 mm |
| Thickness | 1.4 mm |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | Hartill#14.1m-t |
| Obverse description | Four Chinese ideograms read top to bottom, right to left. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, clerical script) |
| Obverse lettering |
開 寶 通 元 (Translation: Kai Yuan Tong Bao Inaugural currency) |
| Reverse description | At least one dot at various locations. |
| Reverse script | |
| Reverse lettering | |
| Edge | Smooth. |
| Mint |
Danzhou, modern-day Yichuan County, Shaanxi, China Ezhou, modern-day Wuhan, Hubei,China Fuzhou, Fujian, China Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Guiyang Inspectorate, modern-day Guiyang County, Hunan, China Guizhou, modern-day Guilin,Guangxi, China Hongzhou, modern-day Nanchang,Jiangxi, China Jingzhao, modern-day Xi’an,Shaanxi, China Jingzhou, Hubei, China Lantian, modern-day Lantian County, Shaanxi, China Liangzhou, modern-day Nanzheng District, Shaanxi, China Luozhou, modern-day Luoyang,Henan, China Pingzhou, modern-day Lulong County, Hebei, China Runzhou, modern-day Dantu District, Jiangsu, China Tanzhou, modern-day Changsha,Hunan, China Xiangzhou, modern-day Xianfeng County, Hubei, China Xingzhou, modern-day Lueyang County, Shaanxi, China Xuanzhou, modern-day Xuancheng,Anhui, China Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China Yanzhou, modern-day Yanzhou District, Shandong, China Yizhou, modern-day Chengdu,Sichuan, China Yongzhou, modern-day Lingling District, Hunan, China Yuezhou, modern-day Shaoxing,Zhejiang, China Zizhou, modern-day Santai County, Sichuan, China |
| Mintage |
ND (621-718) - Hartill#14.01: Early type; regular size (around 25 mm) - ND (621-718) - Hartill#14.02: Early type; larger size (around 26 mm) - ND (718-732) - Hartill#14.03: Middle type; no shoulders on 元 (Yuan) - ND (718-732) - Hartill#14.04: Middle type; left shoulder on 元 (Yuan) - ND (718-732) - Hartill#14.05: Middle type; right shoulder on 元 (Yuan) - ND (732-907) - Hartill#14.06-07: Late type; no shoulders on 元 (Yuan) - ND (732-907) - Hartill#14.08: Late type; left shoulder on 元 (Yuan) - ND (732-907) - Hartill#14.09: Late type; right shoulder on 元 (Yuan) - ND (732-907) - Hartill#14.12: Late type; dot to the left of 元 (Yuan) - ND (732-907) - Hartill#14.13: Late type; dot to the right of 元 (Yuan) - |
| Numisquare ID | 4253264970 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: The Kaiyuan Tongbao, meaning "Circulating Treasure of the Opening Epoch," was introduced in 621 AD by Emperor Gaozu, founder of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). This revolutionary coinage replaced the archaic wuzhu system, establishing a new standard of 10 cash to one tael. Its standardized weight and elegant inscription marked a significant numismatic reform that profoundly influenced Chinese coinage for over five centuries, defining the 'yuanbao' and 'tongbao' nomenclature. The Tang era itself was a golden age of cultural and economic prosperity.
Artistry: The design of the Kaiyuan Tongbao is renowned for its calligraphic excellence, traditionally attributed to the master Ouyang Xun. Executed in a powerful and balanced regular script (kaishu), the four characters (開元通寶) are arranged clockwise around the central square hole. This specific variety is distinguished by a small dot, often found above the top character "開" or elsewhere, which served as a potential mint mark, assay indicator, or numerical denotation. This aesthetic set a benchmark for subsequent Chinese cash coin designs.
Technical/Grading: This bronze 1 Cash coin, measuring approximately 25 mm and weighing 3.45 grams, exhibits typical casting qualities of the early Tang period. Key elements for evaluation include the sharpness and clarity of the calligraphic characters and the definition of both inner and outer rims. A well-formed central square hole is also desirable. While early issues often display superior strike quality, casting variations are common. The distinguishing dot, crucial for variety identification (Hartill#14.1m-t), should be clearly visible, contributing to the coin's overall grade.