800 Cash - Wang Mang (Third reform)

The 800 Cash coin was issued around 10 AD during the brief Xin Dynasty under the usurper emperor Wang Mang. As part of his radical third currency reform, Wang Mang sought to stabilize the economy and consolidate power by introducing a complex system of denominations that departed from the traditional circular bronze coins. These coins, known as spade money, were designed to evoke ancient Zhou Dynasty currency, reflecting the emperor's obsession with restoring idealized Confucian ideals of governance from the distant past.

The design of the 800 Cash coin is distinctive for its spade shape and the inclusion of precise, elegant seal script calligraphy, which was a hallmark of Wang Mang's aesthetic sensibilities. Despite the artistic effort put into their creation, the new currency system was widely unpopular and impractical for daily commerce. It faced heavy resistance from the merchant class and general public, contributing to the economic instability that ultimately helped end Wang Mang's reign when the Han Dynasty was restored in 23 AD.