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1 Cash - Tiansheng Yuanbao, Regular script, iron
| Issuer | Northern Song Dynasty Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1023-1031 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central square perforation surrounded by a raised square rim, with four Chinese characters in Regular script (Kaishu) disposed in the four quadrants of the field, reading clockwise from the top: 天 (Tian), 聖 (Sheng), 元 (Yuan), 寶 (Bao), forming the reign-era legend 'Tiansheng Yuanbao'. The characters are bold and well-defined in the classic Northern Song cast style, set between the inner square rim and a raised outer circular rim. The flat field shows typical cast surface texture consistent with iron cash production of the period. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Tiansheng Yuanbao was issued under Emperor Renzong, who came to the throne as a boy of eleven in 1022. Iron cash of this reign were struck primarily to compensate for chronic copper shortages in the northern circuits, where Song authorities had long struggled to maintain adequate coin supply against the competing demands of military expenditure and trade with the Liao dynasty along the frontier. Iron coinage was actively discouraged from circulating outside designated regions — cross-border movement was a punishable offense — making survivors of this type geographically concentrated finds.