Ancient Chinese coins have a long history dating as far back as 2000 BC when China was ruled by the Xia dynasty. These coins had many different variations. From size, shape, to design. These coins were unique with each passing dynasty.



Types of coins range. The things people used as coins vary. Bone cowrie money was used in China starting in the 14th century BC during the during the Shang and Western Zhou eras. The shells were used and substitutes were made of carved bone. They were outlawed in 221 BC.

Other types of coins were used during the Spring-Autumn and Warring States. One of these was the hollow-shaft spade. Some other types of coins resembled knives. They were large and had a hole at the top so they could be stringed up. These types of coins were called "The Ming" after the city not the dynasty. Another type of coin was the "Bu" spade coin. This era also produced some of the first round coins.

The Qin dynasty was from 221BC to 207BC. During this time both gold and bronze coins were used. However, The first metal coins were made somewhere during the Pre-Chou dynasty and the Chou dynasty. This was somewhere between 600-300 BC.

"Pan Liang" style coins were in service for an extremely long period of time. It is very possible that they were in use up to 2000 years. In some areas they were in use all the way until 1911 AD. The coins were made in the later years of the BC era, somewhere between 140 and 118 BC. These round coins have a square hole in the middle.

Minting coins were first made into a state monopoly during the Han dynasty which roughly lasted around 400 years, between 206 BC to 220 AD. In the first century alone over 220,000 strings were made. Each contained 1000 coins. In the Western Han, casting mould in bronze became used. This was done in order to easily standardize the coins.

The Wu-Ch'U were introduced under the Emperor Yuan- shou. This coin was much like the Pan Liang except the rim was raised to prevent filling. This kept the coin from wearing out as quickly as the coins before it. This coin became used over the next 6 centuries in various forms.

One coin used during the Mongol period between 1280-1368 was a round coin with a square in the middle. It had many intricate designs. This coin was stopped from use very quickly due to people hoarding them. They were given a time period to return them or be punished.

Ancient Chinese coins very old, very detailed history. There have been so many unique unusually shaped coins. The coins have had many different materials. Many of the coins eventually became formed metal. The coins details all came from the current dynasty's rulers.