1000 Cash - Wang Mang Third reform

Wang Mang's monetary reforms were among the most ambitious — and most resented — in Chinese history. The Third Reform of 10 AD introduced a bewildering array of new denominations as part of a broader attempt to reassert imperial control over private wealth, with large-denomination coins like this one effectively forcing unfavorable exchange rates on the population. Hoarding and counterfeiting became rampant almost immediately, and Wang Mang responded with increasingly brutal penalties, including enslavement of entire families.

The Xin Dynasty collapsed in 23 AD, and most of its coinage was demonetized by the restored Han. Excavated examples frequently show casting flash and rough surfaces — quality control was never the priority.