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1 Cash - Anonymous Kaiyuan Tongbao, with dot
| Issuer | Tang Dynasty Imperial Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 621-907 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 3.45 g |
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| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, clerical script) |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain reverse field with a central square perforation surrounded by a raised square inner rim, and a single raised hemispherical dot positioned above the square hole between the inner and outer rims. The field is otherwise unadorned, with a plain raised outer rim encircling the coin. The dot's precise position varies by mint and serves as the primary diagnostic feature distinguishing this variety. |
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| Additional information |
The Kaiyuan Tongbao, introduced in 621 AD under Emperor Gaozu, deliberately broke from the long-standing convention of naming coins after reign periods — "Kaiyuan" refers to a new beginning, not a regnal era. This single design decision governed Chinese copper coinage for the next three centuries and directly influenced monetary systems across Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
The dot variety catalogued by Hartill in the 14.1m-t range reflects workshop differentiation practice, with small marks used to attribute production to specific furnaces within a mint or to satellite mints operating under imperial license.