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1 Cash - Songyuan Tongbao, with stroke
| Issuer | Northern Song Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 960-976 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | The obverse displays the four-character reign title legend 宋元通寶 (Song Yuan Tong Bao) rendered in clerical script (lishu), arranged in the traditional cross reading: top-bottom-right-left around a central square perforation. The characters are boldly cast in raised relief against a flat, unadorned field, enclosed by a plain inner rim surrounding the square hole and an outer raised border. The overall composition is characteristic of early Northern Song cash coinage, with the characters exhibiting the structured, angular strokes typical of official lishu calligraphy. The flat, undecorated field between the legend and the outer rim is devoid of auxiliary marks on this face. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese (traditional, clerical script) |
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| Reverse description | The reverse is essentially plain, featuring a smooth, flat field with a central square perforation surrounded by a raised inner rim and an outer raised border, consistent with standard Northern Song cash coinage practice. A single short raised stroke is visible above the square hole in the inner rim area, serving as the distinguishing mark that identifies this coin as belonging to the 'with stroke' variety (Hartill 16.2i–16.2p). The field shows natural casting texture and an aged patina with traces of green and brown encrustation, consistent with bronze coinage of the period. No additional legends, symbols, or mint marks are present on this face. |
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