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1/2 Liang Type 1
| Issuer | Qin Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 221 BC - 210 BC |
| 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 | 8.92 g |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain, uninscribed reverse displaying a flat field with a central square perforation framed by a raised square inner rim. The surface is devoid of any legend, symbol, or decorative element, consistent with standard Qin dynasty Ban Liang coinage practice. The field exhibits a deep olive-brown patina with scattered areas of green cuprite encrustation, testament to its great antiquity. The outer edge is irregular and slightly uneven, reflecting the hand-finished nature of early imperial Chinese cast coinage. |
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| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The ban liang ("half liang") became the first standardized coinage of a unified China when Qin Shi Huang abolished the diverse currency systems of the six conquered states following unification in 221 BC. The weight standard, nominally eight zhu, was almost certainly never consistently achieved in practice — surviving examples vary considerably, and the Qin administration's ability to enforce metallurgical uniformity across a newly conquered empire was limited at best.
This Type 1 classification, per Hartill's sequencing, represents the earliest production phase. The casting technology drew directly from the Zhou-period foundry tradition the Qin inherited.