This type of coin was made by Liu Bei, Xuan De : the first emperor of Shu
kingdom in three kingdoms period (AD 220-280).
He is a famous hero of "A Tale of Three Kingdoms". In the last
years of Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220), China rushed into a period of
civil war. Liu Bei made all possible effort to recover peace with Guan
Yu, Zhang Fei and Zhu ge Liang. He formed an alliance with Sun Quan and
defeated Cao Cao at the battle of Chi bi in the middle reaches of the Yang
zi jiang (the Yangtze River)(AD 208). In the year AD 214, Liu Bei became
a governer of Yi zhou (Yi province - at present, Cheng du region) and made
this type of coin in the same year. He established Shu Dynasty of three
kingdoms (AD 221).
But at last he failed in the unity of China. His dynasty was ruined by
Wei Dynasty of one of three kingdoms in the year AD 263.
Nevertheless his action has influenced not only Chinese but also Japanese
more than that of any other emperor of China until today.
Deserves hundred of five zhu : Zhi bai wu zhu.
Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220).
Three kingdoms period (AD220-280).
Casting era : AD 14 - The year of fall of Shu kingdom (AD 263).
Emperor of Shu kingdom : Liu bei, Xuan De and Liu Chan.
Obverse : Chinese character inscription : Zhi bai wu zhu.
From observer's point of view, up : Zhi (= deserve), down : bai (= hundred),
right : wu (= five), left : zhu (= an ancient Chinese unit of weight, about
0.67g), Wu zhu (= five zhu) is a name of a usual coin in this period. Therefore
this inscription means that this coin deserves hundred pieces of five zhu
coin.
Hemming line.
Reverse : Hemming line.
7.9g.
D-27.5mm.
G. Small cracks.
Sold.
Explanation is the same as above. But,
5.7g.
D-27.0mm.
F.
Sold.
Explanation is the same as above. But,
6.5g.
D-27.0mm.
G. Small cracks.
Sold.
Explanation is the same as above. But,
3.0g.
D-26.2mm.
G.
Sold.
Explanation is the same as above. But,
6.6g.
D-27.8mm.
F.
Sold.
Shuichi Yamashita
1696, Aoyagi
Ichihara-shi, Chiba
299-0102, JAPAN
E-mail : ge6128@i.bekkoame.ne.jp