Baijin Sanpin - Horse

China (ancient) • -141

Denomination: 500 Zhu
Issuer: China (ancient)
Year struck: -141
Composition: Lead (Lead with a mixture of silver.)
Weight: 21.5 g

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Lore

Why it matters

Ancient Chinese coinage like this piece offers a tangible connection to the early standardization of currency and the economic structures of long-past dynasties. Collectors prize these items as historical artifacts that reflect the sophisticated metallurgical and administrative traditions of their era.

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Provenance

Where it came from

The Baijin Sanpin, or 'Three Categories of White Metal Currency,' were issued by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in approximately 141 BCE. These coins were an experimental fiscal measure designed to replenish the imperial treasury and assert state control over the economy. Cast in a unique silver-tin alloy, the set featured denominations shaped to represent traditional symbols of imperial authority: the dragon for the 3,000-zhu coin, the horse for the 500-zhu, and the tortoise for the 300-zhu.

The design of these pieces reflects the Han aesthetic of functional symbolism, emphasizing the weight and metallic purity of the currency to establish confidence in the new tender. However, the system was short-lived and ultimately unsuccessful. The high intrinsic value of the precious metals relative to their face value led to widespread private melting and counterfeiting, prompting the state to abandon the experiment in favor of standardized copper coinage shortly after its introduction.

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About

About Baijin Sanpin - Horse

Baijin Sanpin - Horse is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. China (ancient) • -141. Catalog data is sourced from Numista. No public coins collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

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Where does the Baijin Sanpin - Horse catalog entry come from?

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