The Iron Coin Repository of Cangzhou

The Iron Coin Repository of Cangzhou

In the Dongguan area of the Old Town (Jiuzhou) in Cangzhou, there is a world-famous Iron Lion. Not far to the east of the Iron Lion lies the Iron Coin Repository. The antique-style courtyard where the Iron Coin Repository is located is also known as the "Old Town Cultural Exhibition Hall." In addition to items such as the "rolling logs and stones" from the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods, the Red Withered Grass, and the Manjusri Hall, the most captivating attraction is undoubtedly the iron coins from the Tang and Song dynasties, which together weigh a total of forty-eight tons.

It is said that these iron coins were unearthed during the Great Leap Forward’s steel-smelting campaign in 1958. Due to the technological limitations at the time, they could not be melted down, and so the coins were reburied and thus preserved. The rusted piles of iron coin blocks include one reportedly weighing as much as seven tons. Among them, a small number of coins still bear legible inscriptions, such as the Tang Dynasty’s "Dahetongbao," and the Song Dynasty’s "Daguantongbao" and "Zhenghetongbao."

The iron coins currently displayed in the "Iron Coin Repository" next to the Iron Lion of Cangzhou were excavated in 1997. To this day, some cultural relics professionals still believe the term "excavation" should be used rather than "digging" when referring to this event. A cultural relics worker told reporters that at the time, laws and regulations regarding cultural heritage protection were not yet well-established, public awareness of preservation was low, and there was a lack of necessary professional organizations. To name just one example, Cang County didn’t even have a cultural relics protection office at the time. Under these circumstances, a certain organization mobilized local laborers to carry out the digging.