Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)

A Da Ding Tong Bao (大定通寶) coin cast under Emperor Shizong.

The Jurchen Jin dynasty was an empire that ruled over Northern China and what would later become Manchuria from 1115 until 1234.[1] After the Jurchens defeated the Khitans, and the Chinese they would continue to use their coins for day to day usage in the conquered territories. In 1234 they were conquered by the Mongol Empire (further reading: Yuan dynasty coinage).

History

Bronze plate for printing the Xingding era paper currency. Jin Dynasty, 2nd year if the Xingding era (1218).

Although the Jin dynasty had become issuing paper Jiao chao (交鈔) in 1154, they didn’t produce coins until the year 1158, prior to that coins from the preceding Liao and Song dynasties continued to circulate within Jurchen territory,[2] as well as a continuing large inflow of coins produced by the Song, this was because the territory of the Jin didn't have enough copper to meet the demand.[3][4] Jin era coins circulated alongside paper money and silver sycees, and were the main medium of exchange for the general population.

In the beginning iron coins continued to circulate but this had become to be perceived as an inconvenience so the Jin government ordered the immediate ban on melting down copper for usage other than currency, and was quick to open more copper mines to manage the production of copper coinage. 3 mints were opened that together produced 140,000 strings of coins a year (or 140,000,000 cash coins annually), after inflation had become a problem this production became less profitable for the Jin government.[5]

Coins produced by the Jin dynasty compared to earlier Liao dynasty coinage are both of higher quality, and quantity; this is because the Jurchens chose to model their coins more closely after the Song’s both in production as superficially in its calligraphic style.

Due to the constant Mongol invasions and high military expenditures, coins cast after 1209 had become a rarity.[6]

List of coins produced by the Jin dynasty

Coins produced by the Jurchen Jin dynasty include:[7][8]

InscriptionTraditional ChineseSimplified ChineseScriptsYears of mintingEmperorImage
Zheng Long Yuan Bao正隆元寶正隆元宝Regular script1158–1161Wanyan Liang
Da Ding Tong Bao大定通寶大定通宝Regular script1178–1189Shizong
Tai He Tong Bao泰和通寶泰和通宝Regular script1204–1209Zhangzong
Tai He Zhong Bao泰和重寶泰和重宝Regular script, Seal script1204–1209Zhangzong
Chong Qing Tong Bao崇慶通寶崇庆通宝Regular script1212–1213Wanyan Yongji
Chong Qing Yuan Bao崇慶元寶崇庆元宝Regular script1212–1213Wanyan Yongji
Zhi Ning Yuan Bao至寧元寶至宁元宝Regular script1213Wanyan Yongji
Zhen You Tong Bao貞祐通寶贞佑通宝Regular script1213–1216Xuanzong
Zhen You Yuan Bao貞祐元寶贞佑元宝Regular script1213–1216Xuanzong

Da Qi coinage

In 1130 during the Jin–Song Wars the Jin dynasty had set up a second puppet state called “Da Qi” (after the failed first puppet state, Da Chu), this puppet state briefly produced its own coins until it was defeated by the Song in 1137.[9][10]

Coins produced by the brief Jurchen vassal state include:

InscriptionTraditional ChineseSimplified ChineseScriptEmperorImage
Fu Chang Tong Bao阜昌通寶阜昌通宝Regular script, Seal scriptLiu Yu
Fu Chang Yuan Bao阜昌元寶阜昌元宝Regular script, Seal scriptLiu Yu
Fu Chang Zhong Bao阜昌重寶阜昌重宝Regular script, Seal scriptLiu Yu

Eastern Xia coinage

During a coin hoard in the Russian Far East in 2011 new seven cash coins were discovered, these coins bore the inscription Dongzhen Xingbao (東眞興寶) alluding to a rebel state named Eastern Xia that was founded during the Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty.[11][12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Alexander Kim Historical Studies of the Jurchen in Russia. Retrieved: 20 June 2017.
  2. ↑ Chinaknowledge.de An overview of the economic history of the Jurchen Jin dynasty. ChinaKnowledge.de - An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art About [Location: HOME > History > Jin > Economy] Retrieved: 18 June 2017.
  3. ↑ .pdf Silver and the Transition to a Paper Money Standard in Song Dynasty (960-1276) China. Richard von Glahn (UCLA) (For presentation at the Von Gremp Workshop in Economic and Entrepreneurial History.) University of California, Los Angeles, 26 May 2010 Retrieved: 17 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Robert M. Hartwell, “The Imperial Treasuries: Finance and Power in Sung China,” Bulletin of Sung-Yuan Studies 20 (1988).
  5. ↑ Hartill, 218. Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
  6. ↑ "Chinese coins – 中國錢幣 (Jurched/Jurchen Jin Dynasty)". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Numis' Numismatic Encyclopedia. A reference list of 5000 years of Chinese coinage. (Numista) Written on December 9, 2012 • Last edit: June 13, 2013 Retrieved: 17 June 2017
  8. ↑ Charms.ru Coincidences of Vietnam and China cash coins legends. Francis Ng, People’s Republic of China, Thuan D. Luc, United States, and Vladimir A. Belyaev, Russia March–June, 1999 Retrieved: 17 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Hartill, 221. State of Qi
  10. ↑ Franke 1994, p. 232.
  11. ↑ 东北儒生 (20 April 2012). "东真兴宝 首次发现---龙泉公子" (in Chinese). Sina Corp. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  12. ↑ 星夜kan开原 (27 December 2015). "东夏国钱币新发现(刘兴晔原创）" (in Chinese). Sina Corp. Retrieved 6 September 2018.

Sources

  • Hartill, David (September 22, 2005). Cast Chinese Coins. Trafford, United Kingdom: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1412054669.
  • Franke, Herbert; Twitchett, Denis (1994). "Introduction". In Denis C. Twitchett, Herbert Franke, and John K. Fairbank (eds.). The Cambridge History of China: Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States, 710–1368. Cambridge University Press. pp. 2–42. ISBN 978-0-521-24331-5.
Preceded by:
Liao dynasty coinage
Reason: Jurchen victory over the Khitan Liao dynasty.		 Currency of Northern China
1115 – 1234		 Succeeded by:
Yuan dynasty coinage
Reason: Mongol conquest
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