½ Liang - Shang Wen
China (ancient) • ½ Liang • Bronze • 175–118 BC
- Denomination
- ½ Liang
- Issuer
- China (ancient)
- Struck
- 175–118 BC
- Composition
- Bronze
- Currency
- Liang
- Weight
- 2.93 g
- Diameter
- 25 mm
- Catalog refs
- Hartill 7.25
Where to find one
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Where it came from
The Ban Liang (Half Liang) coin was introduced following the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty around 210 BCE, though early prototypes emerged in the Warring States period. It represents a pivotal moment in monetary history, as Emperor Qin Shi Huang mandated the standardization of currency to replace the disparate spade, knife, and ant-nose coins used by regional states. This circular design with a square hole became the fundamental template for Chinese coinage for over two millennia.
The design is minimalist, featuring the two characters 'Ban Liang' cast in seal script. This functional aesthetic was intended to facilitate easy transport and counting, often strung together on cords. While the technical execution reflected the casting limitations of the era, the coin served as a powerful tool for centralizing economic control and facilitating trade across a newly unified empire.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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About ½ Liang - Shang Wen
½ Liang - Shang Wen is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. China (ancient) • ½ Liang • Bronze • 175–118 BC. Catalog data is sourced from Numista. No collectors on collecto.rs publicly track this coin yet — adding yours would make you the first.
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