1 Cash - Wang Mang (Fifth reform; Without inner rim)

Issued in 14 CE, this coin represents the fifth and final currency reform of the usurper emperor Wang Mang during his short-lived Xin Dynasty. Following a series of failed monetary experiments that caused significant economic instability, this 'Huo Bu' style coin was part of an attempt to return to a more traditional, simplified weight-based system to restore public confidence in the state's financial authority.

The design is characterized by its distinct spade-shaped form, an archaic style revived by Wang Mang to align his reign with the perceived prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty. Without an inner rim, the coin features clean, elegant calligraphic characters that display a high level of craftsmanship. Despite the aesthetic success of the design, the currency failed to stabilize the economy, and the dynasty collapsed shortly after, leaving these pieces as artifacts of a bold but ultimately unsuccessful bureaucratic attempt to centralize control over ancient Chinese markets.