Lot 3159

Description

China, uncertain period Xia and Shang Dynasties, 'Ch'in' series, double dragon head type, odd shaped medium of exchange and also known as 'bridge money', (c.1000-500 B.C.), length 101 mm., (cf.Coole 6722, 6728, Vol.5 p.478, 482, Not in Sch. or TFP). With green patina, very fine and very rare.

Coole in 'Coins in China's History', discusses these pieces under 'Odd Shaped Mediums of Exchange', and that these pieces were initially used in that transitionary period between the bartering age and the coin age. They were made in many shapes and resembled various valuable utensils and objects used at that time including fish, bells, lotus roots, shields etc. Thus these objects in copper described above look like the early jade musical instruments called ch'in and they were used in orchestras like the modern metallic triangles. Dragon head 'ch'in' are rarely seen and seem to have some monetary exchange value.