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5 Zhu 'Western Han' type, with top rim
| Issuer | Western Han Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 113 BC - 9 AD |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Zhu |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 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 |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Plain flat field surrounding the central square perforation, bounded by a raised inner rim and outer rim typical of Han dynasty Wu Zhu coinage. The reverse is entirely uninscribed and undecorated, presenting a smooth, featureless surface with no legend, motif, or exergual marking. The square hole is cleanly cast with straight edges, and the surface retains an even patina of dark green and brown oxidation consistent with prolonged burial. The raised rims on both inner and outer edges are well-defined, reflecting the high-quality casting standards of the Western Han imperial mint. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The 5 zhu (wuzhu) became the backbone of Han monetary policy after Emperor Wu standardized its production in 118 BC, stripping coinage rights from regional lords who had exploited earlier decentralization to flood markets with underweight issues. The top rim variant — a raised lip on the obverse upper edge — is thought to reflect a specific workshop convention rather than a policy change, and its presence has been used by scholars to attribute pieces to particular casting periods within the long wuzhu sequence.
The type survived virtually unchanged through Wang Mang's interregnum, though Wang Mang officially abolished it in 7 AD in favor of his antiquarian currency reforms — themselves a catastrophic failure that contributed to his dynasty's collapse by 23 AD.