Ancient Coins Museum

　　The Deshengmen Arrow Tower, often referred to as the “Military Gate,” is one of the best-preserved arrow towers in Beijing today. The Ancient Coins Exhibition Hall was originally the Deshengmen Arrow Tower Cultural Relics Custody Office. In 1992, after the national investment in rebuilding the Zhenwu Temple, the Ancient Coins Exhibition Hall was developed into a venue integrating exhibitions, research, and exchanges. It provides a great place for coin enthusiasts to view, communicate, and trade. When you visit here, you can learn about the development history of ancient coins, their casting techniques, how to distinguish genuine ancient coins from fakes, and paper currency from various dynasties. You'll find that each small coin embodies rich historical and cultural significance. Every spring and autumn, the museum hosts a national coin trading fair where enthusiasts can share insights on ancient coins and exchange for pieces they like.

　　Detailed introduction to the Ancient Coins Exhibition Hall: Standing proudly on the North Second Ring Middle Road in Beijing is the majestic ancient structure — the Deshengmen Arrow Tower. The Beijing Ancient Coins Exhibition Hall is located right beneath it. It was completed and opened to the public in October 1993. The Deshengmen Arrow Tower was first built in the early years of the Zhengtong era during the Ming Dynasty and was once one of the nine city defense structures of the Ming and Qing capital. With a history of over 500 years, the tower features gray walls and green tiles, stands 31.9 meters tall, and has a brick-and-wood structure. It consists of a front tower and rear wing, spanning four floors with 82 arrow windows. The beams, columns, brackets, and arches inside are all adorned with colorful paintings.

　　The upper floor permanently displays the “Beijing City Gates and Walls Exhibition.” The Ancient Coins Museum is located in the reconstructed Qing Dynasty Zhenwu Temple and showcases the “Series of Chinese Ancient Currencies.” Here, you can learn about the wide variety of ancient Chinese coins — in shapes such as knife-shaped, square, and round, and made from materials including gold, silver, copper, pottery, and paper. Each small coin carries deep cultural meaning, reflecting the social life and political changes of its time, and every change in currency system had an impact on the course of history. Since its establishment, the Coin Museum has displayed the earliest forms of currency such as cowrie shells, spade coins, and “ghost face money,” as well as copper coins from various dynasties, Qing Dynasty silver notes, and Republican-era paper money. In addition, the museum houses an ancient coin exchange market where visitors can buy, trade, and have coins appraised for authenticity and quality by experts. The museum has become a hub for coin enthusiasts to conduct research, collect, and trade, as well as a window for locals to learn about coins and participate in numismatic activities.