World Silver & Bronze

Lot 1758    SESSION 6 (Thursday at 9.30am)    World Silver & Bronze

Estimate $180
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $140

CHINA, Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - A.D. 25), round cash with square hole, Wu Zhu type, "Jun Guo" (Wu Zhu), issued 118-115 B.C., others (3) issued 115-113 B.C., and from 113 B.C., two characters either side, diameter 26 mm., (Hartill 8.4, 8.5-12, [R12-14], Sch. 114-5, TFP 441-3, Pl.51); others Wang Mang Dynasty Type, (A.D. 7-23), diameter 26-28 mm four characters around, issued A.D. 7-14, obv. "Da Quan Wu Shi" (large coin fifty), as minor varieties (Hartill 9.1-9.4, Sch. 120, 125-6, 130-2, TFP 447, 449-451)we. Fine - good very fine, some varieties rare. (10)

Wang Mang was a nephew of the Empress Wang who was regent. He usurped the throne in A.D. 9 and founded the Xin Dynasty. He has been regarded as a visionary reformer and proto-communist since he nationalised the land and distributed it among the peasants. He introduced a number of currency reforms including the above value fifty coins in the first few years of his reign.