5 Zhu Southern Qi Dynasty

The Southern Qi, one of the shortest-lived of the Southern Dynasties, ruled a fragmented south China for only 23 years before internal purges and succession violence destroyed it from within. This 5 zhu issue dates to the reign of Emperor Wu, a period of relative administrative stability sandwiched between the dynastic chaos that preceded and followed it. Coinage of this era was chronically debased — private casting was widespread, and the court repeatedly failed to suppress counterfeit circulation despite multiple prohibition edicts.