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Auction: CSS117A - China, Hong Kong and World Coins summer auction
Lot: 7

China, Western Han Dynasty / Xin Dynasty, [GBCA 80] bronze knife money, 'Yi Dao Ping Wu Qian', A.D. 7, minted during Huang Meng's first currency reform, 74x30.7x5.3mm, weighs 34.7g. 'Yi Dao Ping Wu Qian' means one knife is the equivalent of 5000 Wuzhu coins, representing a huge amount of purchasing power at that time and was primarily circulated within the social elite, thus rare. The mintage of this coin certainly played a role in increasing money supply and led to inflation, which was among the factors that led to the quick demise of the Xin Dynasty. Authentic and original examples are few and far between, especially with the original inlaid gold.

Estimate
HK$100,000 to HK$150,000