Ancient Coins Museum of East China Normal University

Ancient Coins Museum of East China Normal University

Chinese coins have a history of nearly 5,000 years. As a medium facilitating commodity exchange, coins played an important role in the development of the commodity economy. The coins from various dynasties bear distinctive imprints of their times, reflecting the socio-economic conditions, casting techniques, arts and crafts, evolution of writing, and calligraphy artistry of specific historical periods, and possess high historical, economic, scientific research, and artistic appreciation value.

Cowrie shells, which emerged in the late Neolithic Age, are considered the earliest form of currency in China, while bronze cast coins from the late Shang Dynasty can be regarded as the world’s earliest metal coins. The world’s first paper money also originated in China. It was the Qin Dynasty that truly standardized the shape of Chinese coins as “round outside, square inside,” and for more than two thousand years thereafter, Chinese coins continued to innovate along this design.

The collectible value of ancient coins lies first in their historical significance. For instance, coins minted during short-lived dynasties or peasant uprisings, which had limited circulation time and low mintage, are rare treasures. Secondly, it depends on the surviving quantity — “rarity increases value.” For example, knife coins from the Qi, Yan, and Zhao states, and spade coins from the Han, Wei, and Qin states, are ancient, less common than round coins, and thus highly priced. Additionally, the cultural value of the coins is important. Some types that are not particularly scarce are still highly valued mainly for their cultural significance and artistic worth. For instance, the “Chunhua Yuanbao” coin was inscribed by Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Guangyi, in three scripts: regular, running, and cursive. The regular script is bold and dignified, the running script graceful and flowing, and the cursive script bold and unrestrained, showcasing the pinnacle of Song Dynasty coin inscriptions in terms of calligraphy art. Lastly, the aesthetic condition of the coins is crucial. Court coins made of refined gold, silver, or white copper, which were produced in small quantities and of high quality, are considered precious cultural relics.

Among the cultural relic collections at East China Normal University, ancient coins stand out for their comprehensive variety and excellent preservation. The display in the Ancient Coins Museum showcases over 500 ancient coins of various forms from different historical periods.