How To Read

CHINESE COINS

PART I.

David Ruckser dpaul7

This chart will show the ORDER and DIRECTION that Chinese coins are read…. Older coins might be read in CLOCKWISE Fashion…. Starting at 12:00, then 3:00, 6:00, 9:00. Coins read Clock-wise will be marked as such.

*NOTE: Older coins sometimes use a slightly different writing style…. SEAL SCRIPT and RUNNING or GRASS script are two examples. I will try to show these variations.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is arranged by DYNASTY. The Chinese NEVER used the name of the emperor on their coins… that was Strictly Forbidden! Instead, they used a “Reign Title” … such as Heavenly Peace, or Great Harmony. In the later Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperor only had one reign title. In earlier times, an emperor would have two, three, or more reign titles. These titles would change as important events happened. Here is how each emperor will be shown: 順治 通寳 SHUN ZHI TONG BAO 1644-1661 Emperor Shi Zu 1644-1661

Chinese Letters How to Read, Western-Style Date Coin Wsa Emperor’s Name Dates for Emperor’s On the Coin Letters. MADE. Reign

REMEMBER: Read the coin from TOP to BOTTOM; then RIGHT to LEFT. Do you see how it works? This coin uses the above example to show you….. SHUN ZHI TONG BAO. Now, you know the coin was made by Emperor Shi Zu, between the years 1644 and 1661.

Better dating can be done… but you need Hartill’s book ‘CAST CHINESE COINS’ to do it! Sometimes, on older coins, the phrase TONG BAO becomes YUAN BAO — or even something else! It all will translate into something meaning “Good Money” or “True Money”. Let’s start with China’s last Dynasty, and we will then go backward in time!

QING DYNASTY: 1644-1911 順治 通寳 SHUN ZHI TONG BAO 1644-1661 Emperor Shi Zu 1644-1661 康熙 通寳 KANG XI TONG BAO 1661-1722 Emperor Sheng Zu 1661-1722 擁正 通寳 YONG ZHENG TONG BAO 1723-1735 Emperor Shi Zong 1723-1735 乾隆 通寳 QIAN LONG TONG BAO 1736-1795 Emperor Gao Zong 1736-1795 嘉慶 通寳 JIA QING TONG BAO 1796-1820 Emperor Ren Zong 1795-1820 道光 通寳 DAO GUANG TONG BAO 1821-1850 Emperor Xuan Zong 1821-1850 咸豐 通寳 XIAN FENG TONG BAO 1851-1861 Emperor Wen Zong 1851-1861

祺絴 通寳 QI XIANG TONG BAO 1861 Emperor Mu Zong 1861-1874 同治 通寳 TONG ZHI TONG BAO 1862-1874 Emperor Mu Zong 1861-1874 光緒 通寳 GUANG XU TONG BAO 1875-1908 Emperor De Zong 1874-1908 宣統 通寳 XUAN TONG TONG BAO 1908-1911 Emperor Pu Yi 1908-1912 TAI PING REBELLION Rebel Hong Xiuquan -- 1812-1864 太平 天囯 = TAI PING TIAN GUO

太軿 通寳 = TAI PING TONG BAO

Above are pictured examples of QING Dynasty coins. One emperor is missing! “READ” the coins to discover which Emperor is not shown! Below are examples from the TAI PING Rebellion. Also shown are some

Now, let’s make the older dynasty charts for you!

PRE-QING: 1616-1627 天命 通寳 TIAN MING TONG BAO 1616-1627 NURHACHI (later Shi Zu) 1616-1627

MING DYNASTY - 1368-1644 大中 通寳 DA ZHONG TONG BAO 1361-1368 Zhu Yuanzhang, as Prince of Wu

later Emperor Tai Zu

洪武 通寳 HONG WU TONG BAO 1368-1698 Emperor Tai Zu 1368-1398

永樂 通寳 YONG LE TONG BAO 1403-1410 Emperor Cheng Zu 1403-1424

宣德 通寳 XUAN DE TONG BAO 1426-1435 Emperor Xuan Zong 1426-1435

弘治 通寳 HONG ZHI TONG BAO 1488-1505 Emperor Xiao Zong 1488-1505

*NOTE: If the ZHI character 治 has only 2 strokes, it is the Ming Dynasty coin.

With 3 strokes, it is a Vietnamese product.

水官 通寳 SHUI GUAN TONG BAO 1488-1505 *Shui Guan is a PLACE NAME, not

reign.

大定 通寳 DA DING TONG BAO 1488-1505 *Da Ding is a PLACE NAME, not reign.

正德 通寳 ZHENG DE TONG BAO

*Although no coins were issued with this period title, it is commonly found on amu-

lets and sharms with a dragon and phoenix reverse, which are being made to this day.

The tradition said that there were only two and a half genuine Zheng De coins in the

Chinese Empire; carrying this coin on you could help you win at gambling!!!

嘉靖 通寳 JIA JING TONG BAO 1522-1567 Emperor Shi Zong 1522-1567

隆慶 通寳 LONG QING TONG BAO 1567-1572 Emperor Mu Zong 1567-1572

萬曆 通寳 WAN LI TONG BAO 1573-1620 Emperor Shen Zong 1573-1620

泰昌 通寳 TAI CHANG TONG BAO 1620 Emperor Guang Zong 1620

天啓 通寳 TIAN QI TONG BAO 1621-1627 Emperor Xi Zong 1621-1627

This reign title also existed earlier, under Yuan Rebels.This reign title also existed earlier, under Yuan Rebels.This reign title also existed earlier, under Yuan Rebels.This reign title also existed earlier, under Yuan Rebels.

崇禎 通寳 CHONG ZHEN TONG BAO 1628-1644 Emperor Si Zong 1628-1644

SOUTHERN MING and MING REBEL COINS: 永昌 通寳 YONG CHANG TONG BAO 1644-1645 Rebel Li Zicheng, as Chuang Wang

大順 通寳 DA SHUN TONG BAO 1644-1647 Zhang Xianzhong, as Da Xi Guo Wang

興朝 通寳 XING CHAO TONG BAO 1648-1657 Sun Kewang, as Ping Dong Wang 弘光 通寳 HONG GUANG TONG BAO 1644-1645 Prince of Fu

大明 通寳 DA MING TONG BAO 1644-1646 Prince of Lu

隆武 通寳 LONG WU TONG BAO 1645-1646 Prince of Tang

永厲 通寳 YONG LI TONG BAO 1646-1659 Prince Yongming (later Prince of Gui) *Yong Li coins in seal script or running script are attributed to Koxinga 1651-1670.

THE SAN FAN REBELLION 利用 通寳 LI YONG TONG BAO 1674-1678 Wu Sangui

昭武 通寳 ZHAO WU TONG BAO 1678 Wu Sangui

潂化 通寳 HONG HUA TONG BAO 1679-1681 Wu Shifan

裕民 通寳 YU MIN TONG BAO 1674-1676 Geng Jingzhong

YUAN (MONGOL) DYNASTY - 1280-1368 中統 元寳 ZHONG TONG YUAN BAO 1260-1263 Emperor Shi Zu (Kublai Khan) 1260-1294

*NOTE: COINS WITH MONGOL SCRIPT; ZHI YUAN TONG BAO, 1285-1294

至元 通寳 ZHI YUAN TONG BAO 1285-1294 Emperor Shi Zu (Kublai Khan) 1260-1294

元貞 元寳 YUAN ZHEN YUAN BAO 1295-1296 Emperor Cheng Zong (Temur Oljeitu) 1294-1307

元貞 通寳 YUAN ZHEN TONG BAO 1295-1296 Emperor Cheng Zong (Temur Oljeitu) 1294-1307

*A Mongol Script Version: Ta De Tung Baw 1297-1307 for the above emperor.

至大 元寶 ZHI DA YUAN BAO 1310-1311 Emperor Wu Zong (Khaishan) 1308-1311

至大 通寳 SHI DA TONG BAO 1310-1311 Emperor Wu Zong (Khaishan) 1308-1311

大元 通寳 DA YUAN TONG BAO 1310-1311 Emperor Wu Zong (Khaishan) 1308-1311

大元 之寳 DA YUAN ZHI BAO 1308-1311 Emperor Wu Zong (Khaishan) 1308-1311

皇慶 元寳 HUANG QING YUAN BAO 1312-1313 Emperor Ren Zong (Ayurbarwada) 1311-1320

廷祐 元寳 TING YOU YUAN BAO 1314-1320 Emperor Ren Zong (Ayurbarwada) 1311-1320

至治 元寶 ZHI ZHI YUAN BAO 1321-1323 Emperor Ying Zong (Shidebala) 1321-1323

泰定 元寶 TAI DING YUAN BAO 1324-1327 Emperor Taiding (Yesun Temur) 1323-1328

泰定 元年 TAI DING YUAN NIAN 1323 Emperor Taiding (Yesun Temur) 1323-1328

泰定 通寳 TAI DING TONG BAO 1324-1327 Emperor Taiding (Yesun Temur) 1323-1328

天曆 元寳 TIAN LI YUAN BAO 1329-1330 Emperor Wen Zong (Tugh Temur) 1329-1332

至順 元寶 ZHI SHUN YUAN BAO 1330-1332 Emperor Wen Zong (Tugh Temur) 1329-1332

元統 元堡 YUAN TONG YUAN BAO 1333-1334 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

至元 元寳 ZHI YUAN YUAN BAO 1335-1340 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

至元 通寳 ZHI YUAN TONG BAO 1335-1340 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

穆清 通寳 MU QING TONG BAO 1341-1368 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

至正 通寳 ZHI ZHENG TONG BAO 1350-1368 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

至正 之寳 ZHI ZHENG ZHI BAO 1350-1368 Emperor Shun (Toghon Temur) 1333-1368

YUAN REBELSYUAN REBELSYUAN REBELSYUAN REBELS

龍鳳 通寳 LONG FENG TONG BAO 1355-1366 Han Lin'er (Dynastic Name: Song)

天佑 通寳 TIAN YOU TONG BAO 1354-1357 Zhang Shicheng

天啓 通寳 TIAN QI TONG BAO 1358 Xu Shouhui

天定 通寳 TIAN DING TONG BAO 1359-1360 Xu Shouhui

大義 通寳 DA YI TONG BAO 1360-1361 Chen Youliang

MONGOL KHANS (Before Yuan Dynasty) 大朝 通寳 DA CHAO TONG BAO c. 1206-1227

大朝 金合 DA CHAO JIN HE *May have been a Liao Issue.

交 or 支鈔半分 JIAO or ZHI CHAO BAN FEN c. 1230-1280

大觀 通寳 DA GUAN TONG BAO C. 1230-1280 *Distinguish from the Northern Song coins.

•THE TARTAR DYNASTIES *Note: The Tartar and Mongol Dynasties have coins which do NOT use Chinese characters. LIAO DYNASTY (907-1125) 天顯 通寳 TIAN XIAN TONG BAO *Clockwise (927-937) Emperor Tai Zong (927-947)

會同 通寳 HUI TONG TONG BAO *Clockwise (938-947) Emperor Tai Zong (927-947)

天粶 通寳 TIAN LU TONG BAO *Clockwise (947-951) Emperor Shi Zong (947-951)

應曆 通寳 YING LI TONG BAO *Clockwise (951-969) Emperor Mu Zong (951-969)

保寧 通寳 BAO NING TONG BAO *Clockwise (969-982) Emperor Jing Zong (969-982)

統和 元寳 TONG HE YUAN BAO *Clockwise (983-1011) Emperor Sheng Zong (982-1011)

重凞、通寳 CHONG XI TONG BAO *Clockwise (1032-1055) Emperor Zing Zong (1031-1055)

清寧 通寳 QING NING TONG BAO *Clockwise (1055-1064) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

咸雍 通寳 XIAN YONG TONG BAO *Clockwise (1075-1074) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

大康 元寶 DA KANG YUAN BAO *Clockwise (1055-1064) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

大康 通寶 DA KANG TONG BAO *Clockwise (1055-1064) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

大安 元寳 DA AN YUAN BAO *Clockwise (1085-1094) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

壽昌 元寶 SHOU CHANG YUAN BAO *Clockwise (1095-1101) Emperor Dao Zong (1055-1101)

乾統 元寳 QIAN TONG YUAN BAO *Clockwise (1101-1110) Emperor Tian Zuo (1111-1120)

天慶 元寳 TIAN QING YUAN BAO *Clockwise (1111-1120) Emperor Tian Zuo (1111-1120)

STATE OF QI (1130-1137) All The Issues Below are for the ruler Liu Yu (1130-1137) Reign Title = Fu Chang 阜昌 元寳寳寳寳 FU CHANG YUAN BAO Seal Script *clockwise

阜昌 元寳 FU CHANG YUAN BAO Regular Script *clockwise

阜昌 通寳寳寳寳 FU CHANG TONG BAO Seal Script

阜昌 通寳 FU CHANG TONG BAO RegFU CHANG TONG BAO RegFU CHANG TONG BAO RegFU CHANG TONG BAO Regular Scriptular Scriptular Scriptular Script

阜昌 重寳寳寳寳 FU CHANG ZHONG BAO Seal Script FU CHANG ZHONG BAO Seal Script FU CHANG ZHONG BAO Seal Script FU CHANG ZHONG BAO Seal Script

阜昌 重寳 FU CHANG ZHONG BAO Regular Script

WESTERN XIA (1032-1227) *NOTE: These coins are read CLOCKWISE, starting from the top. 大安 通寳 DA AN TONG BAO 1074-1084 Emperor Hui Zong (1068-1086)

元德 通寳 YUAN DE TONG BAO 1119-1126 Emperor Chong Zong (1086-1139)

大德 通寳 DA DE TONG BAO 1135-1139 Emperor Chong Zong (1086-1139)

天盛 元寳 TIAN SHENG YUAN BAO 1149-1169 Emperor Ren Zong 1139-1193

***READS CLOCKWISE***READS CLOCKWISE***READS CLOCKWISE***READS CLOCKWISE

乾祐 元寳 QIAN YOU TONG BAO 1139-1193 Emperor Ren Zong 1139-1193

天慶 元寳 TIAN QING YUAN BAO 1194-1206 Emperor Huan Zong 1194-1206

皇建 元寳 HUANG JIAN YUAN BAO 1210-1211 Emperor Ziang Zong 1206-1211

光定 元寳 GUANG DING TUAN BAO 1211-1223 Emperor Shen Zong 1211-1223