Kucha, an oasis city-state on the northern Silk Road, operated with considerable monetary autonomy during the Tang dynasty's weakest decades. The Jianzhong reign period (780–783) coincided with the Rebellion of the Four Prefectures, when An Lushan's aftermath still fractured imperial authority across Central Asia. Privately cast issues from this region filled the vacuum left by interrupted official supply chains from Chang'an.
Hartill 14.134 distinguishes these from official Jianzhong cash by specific casting characteristics traceable to local Kuchean workshops rather than imperially supervised mints.
Kucha, an oasis city-state on the northern Silk Road, operated with considerable monetary autonomy during the Tang dynasty's weakest decades. The Jianzhong reign period (780–783) coincided with the Rebellion of the Four Prefectures, when An Lushan's aftermath still fractured imperial authority across Central Asia. Privately cast issues from this region filled the vacuum left by interrupted official supply chains from Chang'an.
Hartill 14.134 distinguishes these from official Jianzhong cash by specific casting characteristics traceable to local Kuchean workshops rather than imperially supervised mints.