½ Liang (Type 5; legend reversed)
China (ancient) • ½ Liang • Bronze • 136–118 BC
- Denomination
- ½ Liang
- Issuer
- China (ancient)
- Struck
- 136–118 BC
- Composition
- Bronze
- Currency
- Liang
- Weight
- 2.98 g
- Diameter
- 24 mm
- Catalog refs
- Hartill 7.31 · FD 435
Where to find one
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Where it came from
The Ban Liang coin, or half-liang, holds a foundational place in Chinese numismatic history as the first standardized currency of the unified Chinese empire. Following the conquest of the Warring States by the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Qin Shi Huang mandated the replacement of various regional knife and spade currencies with a uniform circular coin featuring a square central hole, a design intended to facilitate storage on cords and symbolize the harmony between heaven and earth.
This specific variant, characterized by the reversed orientation of the legend, belongs to the transitional period of the Western Han Dynasty. Produced around 136 BCE, these coins reflect the shifting bureaucratic standards and minting practices that followed the Qin collapse. The simple, bold calligraphy of the seal script serves as an early example of imperial numismatic branding, which was intended to project state authority and economic stability across the newly unified territories.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About ½ Liang (Type 5; legend reversed)
½ Liang (Type 5; legend reversed) is a coin in the Coins catalog on collecto.rs. China (ancient) • ½ Liang • Bronze • 136–118 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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