10 Cash - Wang Mang (Second reform)

During the brief Xin dynasty, the usurper emperor Wang Mang initiated a series of radical monetary reforms intended to restore the idealized systems of the Zhou dynasty. In the year 9, he introduced the 'da quan wu shi' or 10-cash coin as part of an effort to centralize economic power and eliminate the influence of the preceding Han dynasty. This reform was deeply ideological, reflecting Wang Mang's desire to codify Confucian statecraft through the literal inscription of state policy onto currency.

The coins are recognized for their exquisite calligraphy, characterized by 'iron wire' seal script, which is widely considered among the finest aesthetic achievements in the history of Chinese numismatics. Designed to be visually distinct and technically sophisticated to deter counterfeiting, the weight and inscription standards were frequently adjusted, ultimately leading to public confusion and economic instability. Despite the eventual failure of his regime, the aesthetic elegance of these coins has ensured their status as prized specimens for numismatists studying the transition between the Western and Eastern Han periods.