- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Bronze coin with a square central perforation, two text symbols on one side and four on the other. [LKG 03/12/2009]
- Long description
- Bronze coin with a square central perforation, two text symbols on one side and four on the other. The text symbols are arranged around the outer edges of the central perforation and are border on the other side by a wide plain band. This plain band is the same on both sides. The coin is bright bronze in appearance. [LKG 03/12/2009]
- Geographical reference
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1896
- Date collected
- By 1896
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1896
- Materials and processes
- Material Metal, Material Bronze Metal, Process Forged (Metal), Process Perforated, Process Struck
- Dimensions
- Diameter: max 25 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1896.29.28
- Associated publications
- This object was featured in the Museum’s ‘web gallery’ (‘Selected Objects from the Lower Gallery’) produced during the DCF-funded ‘What’s Upstairs?’ project, 2004–2006, with the following caption: ‘Early Chinese coins were in the form of tools, usually knives or spades. From the third century BC these forms were replaced by coins that were round with a square central hole. The circular outline of these coins is said to represent heaven, with the square centre representing earth. The central hole also allowed the coins to be strung together. It is not known how old these coins are.
1896.29.28
Bronze coin with a square central perforation, two text symbols on one side and four on the other. [LKG 03/12/2009]
On display
1896.29.28
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
If you wish to order a high-resolution image and/or licence its use for print or web publication, exhibition, film, promotional product or any other use, whether in the academic or commercial sector of any print run, then please visit photographic services.