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The
Pan Liang was the standard coin of the realm in ancient
China.
These
Pan Liang coins are from the reign of Emperor Ch'e Wu-ti of the Western
Han Dynasty and were minted from about 140BC to
118BC. The
design of the coin, a round coin with a square hole became a standard
that
China continued to use for over 2000 years, until 1911AD. The
coins
are remarkably inexpensive considering their age.
Wang Mang
was
appointed
regent for the young Chinese Emperor in 7AD. Two years later he killed
the boy and usurped the throne. He attempted major reforms of
China's economy including the abolition of slavery, introduction of an
income tax, redistribution of the land from the land owners to the
peasants, instituted price controls, confiscation of gold, demonetized
existing coins and instituted new ones based on an unbacked fiat
coinage. Despite the execution and exile of thousands, most
of
the reforms were not accepted. The economy collapsed, there were
widespread general strikes and massive starvation. In 23AD
Wang
was slain and his "reforms" were abolished. In 14AD, as part
of one of his many (unsuccessful) monetary reforms, he introduced a new
coin, called a Hou Ch'uan. The coin remained in use until
after
his death, when the Wu Ch’u was restored as the standard circulating
coin of China.
The
K'ai Yuan coin
was introduced by Chinese Emperor Kao Tsu, who founded the Tang Dyansty
in 618AD.
The coins replaced the previously used Wu-Chu and other
coins.
The
high quality of the coins and excellent calligraphy set a standard for
Chinese coins for the next 1000 years! The legend
on the
coin,
K'ai Yuan Tung Pao translates as "precious currency of the K'ai Yuan
era".
The Tang Dynasty was a brilliant period in Chinese history.
It
was
an era of great prosperity and artistry. The K'ai
Yuan coin
continued to be issued for the next 300 years, until the collapse of
the
Dynasty in 907AD. During much of the dynasty the
coin was
the
only denomination struck. Because of the relatively low value
of
the coin and the high level of commerce a LOT of the coins were issued
during that period. (Think of doing all your transactions with only
pennies!)
As a result the coin, though over 1000 years old, is still plentiful
and
inexpensive.
The
Northern
(Pei) Song (Sung) Dynasty came to power in
960AD. China prospered under its wise Emperors and a
competent
and honest civil service. In 1101 Emperor Hui Zong (Hui
Tsung)
came to power. An cultured man, poet, painter and avid patron
of
the arts, he spent vast sums collecting art, supporting artists, and
building a costly imperial garden. He neglected the
affairs
of state. The civil service became increasingly corrupt, the
army
weak, and the treasury bankrupt. The Emperor allied himself with the
increasingly powerful Jin (Chin Tarters) of Manchuria to attack and
destroy the neighboring Liao Kingdom. The Jin (Chin), then
turned
against him and succeeded in sacking and destroying the weakened Song
Dynasty. Hui Zong was captured, along with most of the
Imperial
Court, and died in exile in Manchuria.
The
Jen
(Chin Tarters) were
a tribe that came out of Manchuria and were ancestors of the Manchu's
who later founded the Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty. They initially
allied themselves with the Northern Song (Sung) Dynasty, then turned
against their allies, capturing vast amounts of treasure, most of the
Imperial family and by 1127AD controlledmost of Northern
China.
For 30 years they continued to use the existing Liao and Song coins in
circulation, along with notes and silver. In 1158 King Hai
Ling
Wang, (Wan Yan Liang) set up the first mint of the
Dynasty.
The coins were of good quality and bore the as the reign title Zheng
Long (Cheng-Lung). In 1161AD Hai Ling attempted to attack the
remenants of the Song Dynasty in Southern China, known as the Southern
Song (Sung) Dynasty. At the same time he faced the
simultaneous
rebellions of the nobles and various tribes in Manchuria. Finding his
forces spread too thin, he was defeated by the Southern Sung and was
assassinated by his own generals in 1161AD.
SCARCE CHINESE T’AI P’ING REBELLION
EMERGENCY IRON COIN
The T’ai P’ing Rebellion was a
major revolt against the Imperial Chinese government in the 19th
Century. An estimated 20 Million people died, making it one
of the most deadly military conflicts in history. It was
started by Hong Xiuquan, who believed he was the younger brother of
Jesus Christ. He instituted a number of radical reforms, many
of which were later adopted by the Communists. By
1855 he managed to gain control over much of central and southern
China, cutting the imperial treasury off from sources of copper it
needed to make coins. Without copper, the Imperial mint in
Chihli Province started to make cash coins out of iron. The iron coins
were
not well accepted and were soon discontinued. With
British and American help the T’ai P’ings were defeated by
1864. This iron 1 Cash coin was issued by the Paoting mint in
Chihli Province in the name of Ching Emperor Hsien-Feng, who ruled from
1851
to 1861. The coins grade VG to F and as might be expected,
show some signs of rust. They catalog $18.50 in VG.
Our price is much less.
These
two historic silver 20 Cent coins were
issued by Yunnan Province in China. The Flag 20 cents shows the crossed
flags of the Republic of China and the ruling Kuo Ming Tung
party. The coin is dated 1932, a time when Yunnan
was under
the control of a local warlord who encouraged the cultivation of the
opium poppy and very heavily taxed his citizens. The Capitol
20
Cents pictures the provincial capitol building. It was issued
in
1949, after most of the rest of China had fallen to the communists. The
reverses of both coins have Chinese legends. 
An ancient Chinese Spade coin is
pictured on the reverse of each of these three issued by the
Republic of China during the 1930’s. Included is the 1936 5 Cents, the
1938 10 and 20 Cents. Sun Yat Sen, founder of the Republic of
China is pictured on the obverse. All three coins are nickel.
Together the coins catalog for $18, however our price is MUCH less.
OLD
HONG KONG CENT SET
This three coin set features
bronze cents from the first three monarchs of the British colony of
Hong Kong. The Victoria Large cent was issued from 1863 to
1901. The Edward VII large cent was issued from 1902 to
1905. The Hong Kong large cent is 27.5mm, or approximately
the size of a United States Half Dollar. In 1931 Hong Kong
switched to the bronze small cent, which is 22mm in diameter.
It pictures George V and was issued until 1934. After World War II the
cent was no longer issued. The reverse of all three coins have the
denomination and "Hong Kong" in both English and Chinese. The coins
grade Good to Fine. It is an interesting and historic set from this
former British colony that is now part of The People's Republic of
China. 
In
1999 Macao was
returned to China after over 400 years of Portuguese rule.
China agreed to keep Macao a Special Administrative Region within
China. To commemorate the occasion, Macao issued a special
seven coin mint set. The coins feature the arms of Macao on
one side and landmarks on the other. The bi-metallic 10
Pataca features the Government House. The 12-sided 5 Pataca
pictures racing dogs and the Lisboa Hotel. The 8-sided 2
Pataca has a race car and the façade of St. Pauls
Cathedral. The church was once the largest and
grandest in Asia. It burned down in 1835 and was never
rebuilt. The 1 Pataca shows the Cultural and Recreational
Center. The 50 Avos shows a Ferry and a Jet
Airplane. The 20 Avos shows the Monetary and Foreign Exchange
Authority. The Sun Yat Sen Memorial is on the 10
Avos. The coins are packed in a descriptive, hard plastic
case. It is the first, and thus far only, official Mint Set from
Macao. Though the set catalogs for $95.00, our price is much
less.2010 CHINESE SILVER PANDABANKNOTES
OF THE PRIVATE BANKS
OF HONG KONGWWII FIBER COIN OF JAPANESE
OCCUPIED MANCHUKUOWWII ERA
JAPANESE MILITARY CURRENCY SILVER COIN FROM
MACAO COINS OF TIBETTABLE OF
CONTENTS FOR THE INTERESTING STUFF CATALOG
INDEX OF
COINS AND BANKNOTES IN THE INTERESTING STUFF CATALOGSECURE
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