Ancient Chinese coins with square holes are a distinctive feature of Chinese coinage, particularly during the imperial period.
Here’s why these coins had square holes:
- Stringing for Higher Denominations: The square holes allowed coins to be threaded onto square rods for smoothing their rough edges during production, and then strung on strings or belts for easy carrying and handling, especially for larger denominations. This created bundles of cash, similar to modern bundles of banknotes.
- Symbolic Significance: Beyond practical use, the round shape of the coins symbolized the heavens, and the square hole represented the earth, reflecting the ancient Chinese belief in the connection between the two.
- Production Efficiency (Historical Context): In the casting process of these ancient coins (often made of bronze), a square rod was used in the center to keep them uniform and prevent them from rolling. This allowed for more consistent quality and value of the coins.
These coins, known as cash coins, were a standard currency in China for a very long time, from the 4th century BC until the 20th century. It’s worth noting that while square holes were the norm, some rarer coins featured hexagonal or octagonal (often called “flower” or “rosette”) holes, the exact purpose of which remains somewhat debated among scholars.
What is a rare Chinese coin with a square hole?
Good point! The cash or qian was a type of coin of China and the Sinosphere, used from the 4th century BC until the 20th century, characterised by their round outer shape and a square center hole (Chinese: 方穿; pinyin: fāng chuān; Jyutping: fong1 cyun1; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: hong-chhoan).
Why did Chinese coins have a hole in them?
For centuries, the basic unit of currency in China was the bronze or copper coin with a hole in the center for stringing. Large transactions were calculated in terms of strings of coins, but given their weight these were cumbersome to carry long distances.
What Chinese coins are rare?
Thanks for asking. China-Kweichow 1928 Auto Silver Dollar. …
China-Chekiang 1902 20 Cents Silver Proof. …
China-Heilungkiang ND 1896 50 Cents Brass Pattern. …
China-Kiangnan ND 1897 20 Cents Silver Pattern. …
Republic of China ND 1916 Yuan Shi Kai One Dollar Silver, Hat Touching Brim.