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1 Cash - Dali Privately cast
| Issuer | Kucha region |
|---|---|
| Year | 766-779 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Cash |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
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| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Round bronze cash coin featuring a large central square hole, typical of Tang-era privately cast issues. A single Chinese character appears in the upper field above the square perforation, cast in regular script (kaishu). The broad, flat rim is slightly irregular, consistent with private casting techniques of the Dali period. The field surface displays characteristic casting texture and is covered in green patina indicative of age and burial. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain reverse featuring a large central square hole surrounded by a flat, unadorned field with no inscriptions or decorative elements. The broad rim is slightly uneven, reflecting the informal privately cast nature of this issue. The entire surface is covered in thick green cuprite and malachite patina, consistent with long-term burial. No mint marks or additional characters are present. |
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| Additional information |
Kucha, an oasis city-state on the northern Silk Road, fell under Tibetan control in 766 after Tang dynasty forces — already catastrophically weakened by the An Lushan Rebellion — were unable to hold the Tarim Basin. This piece belongs to the privately cast issues that proliferated when central monetary authority collapsed across the region. The Dali reign period designation refers to the Tang court still nominally claiming suzerainty, but the coinage itself reflects local economic necessity rather than imperial sanction.