Chinese Cash Coin
About Chinese Cash Coin
The longest-lived coin design in history, produced for over 2,000 years. Round with a square hole, representing heaven and earth. The hole allowed strings of coins to be carried easily. Cast rather than struck, a technique unique to East Asia. The inscription changed with each emperor. The standard unit was the wen, with 1,000 wen equaling one tael of silver. The last cash coins were cast in the early 20th century under the Qing Dynasty.
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