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Ant-nose Money 'Ghost face' type, repeated inscription
| Issuer | Chu, State of |
|---|---|
| Year | 400 BC - 220 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Oval (With a hole) |
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| Obverse description | A single archaic Chinese ideogram cast in raised relief upon the oval planchet, rendered in the primitive pictographic script of the Warring States period. The character 貝 (Bei), representing a cowrie shell, is depicted in a stylized, abstract form occupying the central field. The raised linear strokes form a geometric, face-like composition characteristic of the so-called 'Ghost Face' type, with two upper lobes surmounting a broad horizontal element above a lower register. The design is bold and deeply cast, with slightly uneven surfaces typical of hand-finished Chu bronze currency. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Chinese |
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| Additional information |
Ant-nose coins — so called by later collectors for their vaguely insectoid profile — were the primary small-denomination bronze currency of the Chu state during the Warring States period, circulating across a territory that at its peak stretched across much of south-central China. The "ghost face" designation refers to a specific reading of the cast inscription by later scholars, though debate over what the characters actually say has never been fully resolved. The repeated-inscription variety of Hartill 1.8 reflects a die or mold anomaly rather than an intentional design choice.