The Great Zhong State was the short-lived regime of Chen Youliang, a former fisherman's son who rose through the Red Turban rebellion to challenge Zhu Yuanzhang for control of southern China. Chen proclaimed himself emperor in 1360 and minted the Dazhong Tongbao series as his primary currency, but his ambitions ended at the Battle of Lake Poyang in 1363 — one of the largest naval engagements in premodern history — where his forces were decisively defeated and Chen himself killed by a stray arrow.
The Bei Ping designation marks this as a product of the northern pacification mint, distinguishing it from issues of the central administration. Surviving examples of this denomination are notably scarce relative to smaller Cash values from the same regime.
The Great Zhong State was the short-lived regime of Chen Youliang, a former fisherman's son who rose through the Red Turban rebellion to challenge Zhu Yuanzhang for control of southern China. Chen proclaimed himself emperor in 1360 and minted the Dazhong Tongbao series as his primary currency, but his ambitions ended at the Battle of Lake Poyang in 1363 — one of the largest naval engagements in premodern history — where his forces were decisively defeated and Chen himself killed by a stray arrow.
The Bei Ping designation marks this as a product of the northern pacification mint, distinguishing it from issues of the central administration. Surviving examples of this denomination are notably scarce relative to smaller Cash values from the same regime.