Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)

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

The Jin dynasty was a Jurchen-led dynasty of China that ruled over northern China and Manchuria from 1115 until 1234.[1] After the Jurchens defeated the Liao dynasty and the Northern Song dynasty, 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 (which later evolved into the Yuan dynasty; further reading: Yuan dynasty coinage).

History[edit]

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

Although the Jin dynasty had started issuing paper Jiaochao () 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. The Taihe Zhongbao (泰和重寶) were cast with a very special and particular style of calligraphy known as jade tendon seal script.[6]

Due to the constant Mongol invasions and high military expenditures, coins cast after 1209 had become a rarity.[7]

List of coins produced by the Jin dynasty[edit]

Coins produced by the Jurchen Jin dynasty include:[8][9]

Inscription Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Scripts Years of minting Emperor Image
Zheng Long Yuan Bao 正隆元寶 正隆元宝 Regular script 1158–1161 Wanyan Liang
Da Ding Tong Bao 大定通寶 大定通宝 Regular script 1178–1189 Shizong
Tai He Tong Bao 泰和通寶 泰和通宝 Regular script 1204–1209 Zhangzong
Tai He Zhong Bao 泰和重寶 泰和重宝 Regular script, Seal script 1204–1209 Zhangzong
Chong Qing Tong Bao 崇慶通寶 崇庆通宝 Regular script 1212–1213 Wanyan Yongji
Chong Qing Yuan Bao 崇慶元寶 崇庆元宝 Regular script 1212–1213 Wanyan Yongji
Zhi Ning Yuan Bao 至寧元寶 至宁元宝 Regular script 1213 Wanyan Yongji
Zhen You Tong Bao 貞祐通寶 贞佑通宝 Regular script 1213–1216 Xuanzong
Zhen You Yuan Bao 貞祐元寶 贞佑元宝 Regular script 1213–1216 Xuanzong

Da Qi coinage[edit]

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.[10][11]

Coins produced by the brief Jurchen vassal state include:

Inscription Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Script Emperor Image
Fu Chang Tong Bao 阜昌通寶 阜昌通宝 Regular script, Seal script Liu Yu
Fu Chang Yuan Bao 阜昌元寶 阜昌元宝 Regular script, Seal script Liu Yu
Fu Chang Zhong Bao 阜昌重寶 阜昌重宝 Regular script, Seal script Liu Yu

Eastern Xia coinage[edit]

According to information from an attempted seller, in a small 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.[12][13]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  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. Archived October 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine 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. ^ Jen, David: Chinese Cash, Identification and Price Guide. - Krause Publications, US. 2000. Page: 91.
  7. ^ "Chinese coins – 中國錢幣 (Jurched/Jurchen Jin Dynasty)". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Hartill, 221. State of Qi
  11. ^ Franke & Twitchett 1994, p. 232.
  12. ^ 东北儒生 (April 20, 2012). "东真兴宝 首次发现---龙泉公子" (in Chinese (China)). Sina Corp. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  13. ^ 星夜kan开原 (December 27, 2015). "东夏国钱币新发现(刘兴晔原创)" (in Chinese (China)). Sina Corp. Retrieved September 6, 2018.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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