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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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| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Ant-nose money (401-220 BC) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | A single archaic Chinese ideogram 貝 (Bei, meaning cowrie shell) appears in raised relief on the reverse, mirroring the obverse composition in the same primitive pictographic script of the Warring States period Chu state. The strokes form the same stylized geometric arrangement of lobes and horizontal bars, presenting a face-like aspect consistent with the 'Ghost Face' designation. The field surface is slightly convex and exhibits the characteristically rough, granular texture of ancient Chinese cast bronze coinage. A small raised dot or pellet is visible in the lower portion of the field. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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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.