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1 Cash - Tonghe Yuanbao
| Issuer | Liao dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 983-1011 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Cash |
| 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 | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central square perforation surrounded by a raised square border, with four Chinese characters in regular script (kaishu) disposed in the four quadrants of the field, read clockwise from the top: 統 (Tong), 和 (He), 元 (Yuan), 寶 (Bao). The characters are boldly cast in raised relief against a flat field, with small-character varieties not touching the outer rim. A plain raised rim encircles the entire design. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain reverse featuring only the raised square inner border surrounding the central square perforation, set within a flat, unadorned field. No inscriptions, symbols, or decorative elements are present. A plain raised rim borders the coin's circumference, consistent with standard Liao dynasty cash coinage practice. |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
The Tonghe reign period of Emperor Shengzong lasted nearly three decades, but coinage bearing this era name was produced inconsistently, and surviving examples vary considerably in casting quality — a reflection of the decentralized mint operations typical of Liao monetary administration. The Liao, as a Khitan state, adopted the cast-bronze cash format from Tang and Song China while maintaining parallel economies in which silk, silver ingots, and livestock functioned as primary exchange media for many transactions. Bronze cash played a secondary role in commerce compared to its Chinese contemporaries.