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1000 Cash - Wang Mang Third reform
| Issuer | Xin Dynasty (Wang Mang) |
|---|---|
| Year | 10-14 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Spade-shaped cast bronze spade money (bu) of the Wang Mang third monetary reform, featuring a raised inner border that follows the contours of the spade form, including the trapezoidal head with a circular suspension hole at the top and the characteristic bifurcated foot at the base. A vertical median line bisects the body of the spade, flanking which appear the two-character inscription in archaic seal script (zhuanshu): 大布 (Dà Bù, 'Large Spade') on the left and 黃千 (Huáng Qiān, 'Yellow Thousand') on the right, cast in bold relief. The characters are rendered in the ornate, elongated style typical of Wang Mang coinage, with decorative serifs and flourishes characteristic of the period. The field displays the natural granular texture of the cast bronze surface, now covered with an even olive-green patina. |
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| Reverse description | Plain reverse of the spade money, retaining the same overall spade-shaped outline with raised border, trapezoidal head with circular suspension hole, vertical central rib, and bifurcated foot as seen on the obverse. The field is entirely blank of inscription or device, displaying a rough, granular cast surface consistent with traditional Chinese casting methods of the early first century AD. The surface is covered with an uneven dark olive-brown and green patina, with areas of original bronze visible beneath. |
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| Additional information |
Wang Mang's monetary reforms were among the most ambitious — and most resented — in Chinese history. The Third Reform of 10 AD introduced a bewildering array of new denominations as part of a broader attempt to reassert imperial control over private wealth, with large-denomination coins like this one effectively forcing unfavorable exchange rates on the population. Hoarding and counterfeiting became rampant almost immediately, and Wang Mang responded with increasingly brutal penalties, including enslavement of entire families.
The Xin Dynasty collapsed in 23 AD, and most of its coinage was demonetized by the restored Han. Excavated examples frequently show casting flash and rough surfaces — quality control was never the priority.