10 Zhu (Wu Zhu; iron)

The 10 Zhu coin of the Chengjia Empire represents a fleeting and rebellious chapter in Chinese numismatic history. It was minted around 30 AD by Gongsun Shu, a regional warlord who declared himself emperor in the Sichuan region during the chaotic transition between the Western and Eastern Han dynasties. By issuing his own currency, Gongsun Shu sought to legitimize his short-lived regime and solidify his economic independence from the central authority in Luoyang.

The design of these iron coins reflects both the aesthetic traditions of the era and the resource constraints of a separatist state. While the standard Han Wu Zhu coins were typically cast in bronze, the Chengjia Empire utilized iron, a choice likely dictated by the local availability of minerals or a strategic move to conserve precious metals for weaponry. The coins, characterized by their bold calligraphy, remain significant artifacts that illustrate the efforts of a brief usurper to impose imperial structure on a volatile frontier territory.