Because these gold blocks are inscribed with Chinese characters they are variously known as yin zi jin (Chinese: 印子金; pinyin: yìn zǐ jīn), jin ban (Chinese: 金版; pinyin: jīn bǎn), or gui bi (traditional Chinese: 龜幣; simplified Chinese: 龟币; pinyin: guī bì).[2]
History and overviewedit
The oldest ones known are from about the 5th or 6th century BCE.[1] They consist of sheets of gold 3-5mm thick, of various sizes, with inscriptions consisting of square or round stamps in which there are one or two characters.[1] They have been unearthed in various locations south of the Yellow River indicating that they were products of the State of Chu.[1] One of the characters in their inscription is often a monetary unit or weight which is normally read as yuan (Chinese: 爰; pinyin: yuán).[1] Pieces are of a very variable size and thickness, and the stamps appear to be a device to validate the whole block, rather than a guide to enable it to be broken up into unit pieces.[1]
Another inscription that is sometimes found on these ancient gold blocks is chen yuan (陳爰).[2]
Some specimens have been reported in copper, lead, or clay.[1] It is probable that these were funeral money, not circulating currency, as they are found in tombs, but the gold ones are not.[1]
ying, yuan, chinese, 郢爰, pinyin, yǐng, yuán, were, stamped, blocks, gold, bullion, this, early, form, currency, that, could, considered, precursor, gold, coins, self, published, source, they, were, issued, ancient, chinese, state, during, warring, states, peri. Ying Yuan Chinese 郢爰 pinyin yǐng yuan were stamped blocks of gold bullion This was an early form of currency that could be considered a precursor to gold coins 1 self published source They were issued by the ancient Chinese state of Chu during the Warring States period between the 400s and late 200s BCE 1 Ying Yuan Contents 1 Names 2 History and overview 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksNames editBecause these gold blocks are inscribed with Chinese characters they are variously known as yin zi jin Chinese 印子金 pinyin yin zǐ jin jin ban Chinese 金版 pinyin jin bǎn or gui bi traditional Chinese 龜幣 simplified Chinese 龟币 pinyin gui bi 2 History and overview editThe oldest ones known are from about the 5th or 6th century BCE 1 They consist of sheets of gold 3 5mm thick of various sizes with inscriptions consisting of square or round stamps in which there are one or two characters 1 They have been unearthed in various locations south of the Yellow River indicating that they were products of the State of Chu 1 One of the characters in their inscription is often a monetary unit or weight which is normally read as yuan Chinese 爰 pinyin yuan 1 Pieces are of a very variable size and thickness and the stamps appear to be a device to validate the whole block rather than a guide to enable it to be broken up into unit pieces 1 Some ying yuan contain the Chinese characters ying yuan 郢爰 2 Another inscription that is sometimes found on these ancient gold blocks is chen yuan 陳爰 2 Some specimens have been reported in copper lead or clay 1 It is probable that these were funeral money not circulating currency as they are found in tombs but the gold ones are not 1 See also edit nbsp Money portalEconomic history of China Ancient Chinese coinageReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Hartill David September 22 2005 Cast Chinese Coins Trafford Publishing p 79 ISBN 978 1412054669 a b c Chinese Burial Money Gary Ashkenazy גארי אשכנזי Primaltrek a journey through Chinese culture 20 March 2015 Retrieved 20 June 2020 External links editWhat is the Earliest Gold Coin in China nbsp This coin related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This China related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ying Yuan amp oldid 1107227814, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
