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1 Cash - Wang Mang Fifth reform, Blob at top of hole
| Issuer | China (ancient) |
|---|---|
| Year | 14-23 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 21.5 mm |
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| Obverse description | Cast bronze cash coin bearing the two-character inscription 貨泉 (Huo Quan, 'Wealth Coin') arranged horizontally to the left and right of the central square perforation. The characters are rendered in the seal script style (zhuanshu) typical of the Xin dynasty monetary reforms under Wang Mang. A distinctive casting blob or protrusion is present at the top edge of the square hole, serving as the key diagnostic feature of this variety. The field is flat and unadorned, enclosed within a plain raised outer rim. The coin displays an even dark olive-brown patina consistent with ancient bronze alloy and burial environment. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
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| Mintage | ND (14-23) |
| Additional information |
Wang Mang's monetary reforms were among the most chaotic in Chinese history — he imposed four separate currency overhauls between 7 and 14 AD before this fifth and final system, each one devaluing the last and triggering widespread hoarding and counterfeiting. The "blob at top of hole" variety is a casting artifact, a small bronze intrusion into the square central perforation, produced when molten metal crept through imperfections in the clay mold during the tree-casting process. Hartill treats it as a distinct catalogued type rather than a simple mint flaw.